Most of you will think I've lost my sanity (or even more so than prior to this post). I haven't - or at least I don't think I have- but the subject to this is chickens. This post was inspired by t.v. programs I recently watched presented and driven by t.v. chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-whittingstall (names this long should be illegal!) which were devoted to improving the life of batter hens and since then I decided to write a matticle further promoting it as I believe it a worthy cause.
All the basic attributes any DECENT human being would provide. Alas the producers can't take complete credit, it's also the fault of the supermarkets and YOU! What gives us the right to compact a living creature in a small space, accelerate it's growth, take away and hygiene, stop it ever seeing the light of day or even GRASS. European laws state that these conditions are acceptable, I disagree. What has given us the right to take a creature form the SUN, what have we become if we allow this to happen?
A typical chicken shed contains 40,000 chickens, who will never see day light, and will be contained in a space smaller than an A4 piece of paper (sometimes less if caged - as above-). They will be forced to live in their own feces; burning their hocks - skin on the the back of their feet. The harsh conditions mean that many die and 5% have to be culled prematurely. They have been bred by poultry scientists to grew twice as fast as regular, free range chicken; reaching adulthood in a mere 39 days. The disgusting conditions and lack of capability to exercise cause 1/3 of the chickens to have pain walking and the stress on their hearts and lungs is astronomical, often causing failures.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER... It's cheap isn't it? Does that excuse you? What are the benefits? that's it, it's cheap. The battery hen isn't high in protein but fat as protein takes time and exercise to be produced. It isn't high in Omega 3 as they need to be nourished with grass and the resident insects. Make the switch. Make yourself kind. Stop the TORTURE.
Support nature and freedom, let the chickens out! For more information and to join the movement go to the Chicken out hompage
2 comments:
I can see you in a few years, standing outsite Number 10, alone, with a large sign in your hand which says 'Don't pick their bones, give them Homes; Free the Chickens'.
=P Both an informative and somewhat comedic post there Matthew, however in todays day and age I personally feel that there are many bigger problems such as Oil Prices etc. which overshadow such problems like inhumane treatment of not just chickens, but hundreds of animals spread across the globe. Maybe once we've settled that these problems can be resolved, but for now, I see it as a minor compared to major problems.
Tom.
Great place to be and i like the slogan, i might use that...
I know what you mean but to be honest i think we can deal with these problems in a parallel fashion. Plus I think rising oil prices maybe a good thing as it may reduce global warming but that's a whole different debate :D Thanks for the comment!
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