GYO Batteries!

[Sunbeam]

Can I just say a huge thank-you to GYO for the article on Battery Hens - it was great to see them being shown as the happy and healthy girls the become with a little TLC.... I was also informed by a local farmer that Hen Batteries are being outlawed in the UK in 2010... has anyone else herd this too?

[Snadger]

Can I just say a huge thank-you to GYO for the article on Battery Hens - it was great to see them being shown as the happy and healthy girls the become with a little TLC.... I was also informed by a local farmer that Hen Batteries are being outlawed in the UK in 2010... has anyone else herd this too?

Hadn't heard that Sunbeam, but glad that people have finally come to there senses, if it's true!

[Alice]

It's true Sunbeam but we don't have to wait until then. We all have the choice now. I'm sure most of us do exercise the choice over what kind of chicken and eggs we buy.

[kirsty b]

we're hoping to get some chooks in a few months when we have got the house and run ready. I was reading bits of that article to the OH and have almost got him persuaded that rescuing battery hens is a good idea for us because after a bit of TLC we'll get just as good eggs as we would from buying poults.

Hadn't heard the news about outlawing battery farms, about time.

[CountryFayre]

As much as it is good news, the reality is that the doors will be opened for more eggs to be imported from countries whose standards are lower than ours. As much as we all do what we can for 'ethical' eggs, most people are led by cost and cost alone.

[Snadger]

As much as it is good news, the reality is that the doors will be opened for more eggs to be imported from countries whose standards are lower than ours. As much as we all do what we can for 'ethical' eggs, most people are led by cost and cost alone.

Maybe time to resurrect the 'Buy British' campaign!

[Mrs Dobby]

Maybe time to resurrect the 'Buy British' campaign!

Good idea Snadger, and possibly the 'Go to work on an Egg' campaign too?

Actually, I wonder if a Buy British campaign would be PC nowadays, I mean, it may well upset someone out there, unfortunately!

[JennieAtkinson]

I thought it was a lovely article - so sweet to think of them getting a chance of a new home.

I started buying British for all fresh foods last year and so far have managed quite well although have to resort to Pink Lady apples for OH during the summer. I do get local farm eggs from the small shop in the next village, but had no idea that some eggs were imported. They'd been nearly hatching by the time they go here! How can you tell if they are imported? Like to tell my family and friends that one, as I'm sure they have no idea.

[Lesley Jay]

Jennie they will have the little lion stamped on them. Buying from a farm they should still have the farm code marked on them.

[Snadger]

Good idea Snadger, and possibly the 'Go to work on an Egg' campaign too?

Actually, I wonder if a Buy British campaign would be PC nowadays, I mean, it may well upset someone out there, unfortunately!

Sod it " Go to work on a British egg"!!!!!

[Digger-07]

I get a regular update from the link below.

One day I might even get some chooks.

www.thehenshouse.co.uk

[Crazy Chickie]

Its lovely to see poor battery hens being given a chance to live propper, healthy lives. Sunning themselves, taking dust baths and scratching up the garden are both essential chicken duties and wonderfull to watch. I would highly recommend owning some chooks, they are easy to look after and great for clearing the garden of pests. Just be wary of getting ex-battery hens as they may have diseases and I would feel uncomfortable giving the battery farms any money as although you are saving the poor animal you are also funding the torture of the replacement chickens. However if the hens are free, and you are willing to take the risk and put in the time and effort to help them it would be immensly rewarding, plus the chickens will love you forever .

[Sunbeam]

If you contact the Battery Hen Welfare Trust you will find that all you are asked for is a donation towards the charity. They pay the battery farmer the same price as the 'McNugget' brigade - usually about 50p per bird... it's not an ideal situation, but it means that more girls get freed than it would it they didn't...

[Nicos]

So how long do chickens live??
I am aware they can last at least 10 yrs...but what is the norm??

[filthyrich]

a long time if you don,t chop heads off nicos,only joking ,question ...how long from when you buy point of lay birds till they actually start to lay?....