Battery hens won't be banned?

[MaureenHall]

I've just had this through from BHWT:



With the leaked news of the Labour government may be trying to drop their pledge of banning battery hen's, it is now even more important that we share our voices, the way to get through to parliament is to contact our local MP's, it's a time for new resolutions and making a difference and it starts with little things like this.

Please ask your MP to sign EDM’s 234 and 239 in support of improved welfare for egg laying hens and support for British egg farmers

You can find the direct contact details for your MP here:

UK Parliament - Alphabetical list of MPs

Or to find your MP and send your email go to:

WriteToThem - Email or fax your Councillor, MP, MEP, MSP or Welsh, NI, London Assembly Member for free.

This campaign aims to prevent cheap battery eggs laid by caged hens outside the EU from being used in our foods without our knowledge, it’s so important to all laying hens that you take part to prevent imports of egg products from countries where welfare is out of our control.

This support will help to reassure EU farming that cheaper battery eggs will not be imported in from other sources and are being more conscientious about where our food products come from.

If you would like a sample letter please email gaynor.davies@bhwt.org.uk

Please if you could pass this on to everyone you think who would want to know and help make a change for the better


Unfortunately my MP won't sign up to this "because of his other commitments in Parliament" (he won't get my vote!!!) but if any of you can lobby your MP's then it'll be another voice shouting for these poor girls

[PAULW]

This campaign aims to prevent cheap battery eggs laid by caged hens outside the EU from being used in our foods without our knowledge, it’s so important to all laying hens that you take part to prevent imports of egg products from countries where welfare is out of our control.

MAUREEN its not that long ago that eggs infected with salmanella were being imported in from Spain an EU country, if the welfare is not the same in the union what chance is there that this poxy government will do anything to stop imports from outside the union

[tlck9]

What this boils down to is trying to encourage friends and family to buy free range, its also important to get people to consider when buying ready made ingredients or food to check if its free range or not.

I read somewhere that quite a lot of eggs found in ready meals etc are imported even as far as India/China, so we really need to ask retailers more, restaurants etc where our eggs are from.

This is my new years resolution, one not to be broken

Farmers will supply demand, therefore if more consumers eat free range, rather than caged bird eggs, then there will not be a need for a ban and therefore we can avoid unwanted imports of eggs outside of the UK control.

[MrsC]

What this boils down to is trying to encourage friends and family to buy free range, its also important to get people to consider when buying ready made ingredients or food to check if its free range or not.

I read somewhere that quite a lot of eggs found in ready meals etc are imported even as far as India/China, so we really need to ask retailers more, restaurants etc where our eggs are from.

This is my new years resolution, one not to be broken

Farmers will supply demand, therefore if more consumers eat free range, rather than caged bird eggs, then there will not be a need for a ban and therefore we can avoid unwanted imports of eggs outside of the UK control.

No, sorry just re-read, I don't understand the previous posts?
I don't understand that tlck9, am I being dim? Sorry, just re-read your post, I am being dim lol!

[tlck9]

No, sorry just re-read, I don't understand the previous posts?
I don't understand that tlck9, am I being dim? Sorry, just re-read your post, I am being dim lol!

which bit?

[MrsC]

Farmers will supply demand bit....

[tlck9]

sorry prob my wording, but if consumers demand more free range and commit to buying free range, more UK farmers will switch to free range or barn rather than caged....

However as the BHWT point out its a huge out lay for the farmer to switch, so they need confidence that the consumers will continue the support for free range....

So how as Chicken lovers can we spread the word and keep people going free range

[PAULW]

From a viva publication
the UK consumes 10 billion eggs per year that is a lot of chickens and a lot of land to be totally free range,

[MrsC]

See what you mean now

[petal]

As I understand it the problem is that battery eggs are used in so many products that the only answer to preventing cruelty is to ban the battery farming practice altogether. This would push food prices up, I expect. You can't expect everyone to care about animal welfare, some people just are not programmed to be like that!

[MaureenHall]

Petal that's so true unfortunately. I'll be happy if I can "convert" just 1 person every so often to stop using battery-produced eggs

[Suechooks]

Petal that's so true unfortunately. I'll be happy if I can "convert" just 1 person every so often to stop using battery-produced eggs

My allotment neighbour was horrified when she saw my ex-batts when they first came to me but seems totally unable to grasp that the eggs she buys at 15 for £1.20 or something are from those birds or similar when they were in cages! And she is an intelligent person but just has no affinity with animals.

[matthew2riches]

Subjects like this make my blood boil!!

Note: Just don't share anymore of those pointless petitions!!!! All the 'government lot' (nice name) do is reword the dam question and repeat themselves!!!

Rant over ;-)

[petal]

Well, its a tricky one. Those that have hardly any money and are on their own trying to bring up several kids are more likely to grab the lowest price item they can find, regardless of whether they feel for animals or not. The only answer is for 'the government' to ban cruel farming practice.

[tlck9]

Well that was going to happen, but apparently as the UK farmers change over to the new system, places in Europe with lower food standards, have been buying the old caging systems.

This is a serious threat to getting very cheap eggs, now I'm not sure about you, but thats not something I want coming into the country....

I appreciate the cost element to people feeding a family, but then some of those families stood feeding their kids burgers through the school gates, so if they have no thought for what their kids eat, they certainly wont care how the chickens that give them eggs are kept

Shall step off my soap box now, but I will try and convert my friends and family to ensure they still to free range eggs!