Egg hatchery investigation

[susandean]

I have had my own chickens off and on for years. I usually buy from the local feed store in the spring when they get their chicks in. You have a choice of mixed, all male or all female. Even though I buy only hens I know that the hatchery they came from has destroyed a lot of the males. The few times I have had a rooster and the hens hatched their own chicks there are always more males than females. The males are really hard to even give away as no one wants the crowing in the city and everyone wants hens for eggs. It is a real problem for the poor things. I read Diet for a New American years ago and tried to go vegatarian but found it really hard to cook for DH who was just not willing to do it. I really respect those of you that can stick to it.


Susandean

 

[Tamrahan]

I couldn't bring myself to watch the video. I have an idea what goes on though since I watched Mike Rowe on Dirtiest Jobs show, he went to a plant and showed how chickens were sexed that was bad enough. I cant' remember if they said what happens to the males-probably not.

Very sad.

shelsmaha-I grew up in WDM-my mom still lives in the same house I grew up in-I now reside in Granger but Dh and I want to get back to Urbandale,WDM or Waukee. So glad to meet a fellow Iowan here. Makes me wonder how many other Iowans are out there.


Sparrow, the cat in your avatar is the same as my signature. I kind of miss your birdie avatar though.

 

[Vee]

Thank you for posting this.

I have been vegetarian since childhood, gave up eggs some time ago and recently turned fully vegan by giving up dairy.

I have trouble locating vegan cosmetics and pine for my favorite dairy foods. Otherwise I dont miss any non-vegan products.

This post reminded me of why it is important not to give in to those cravings for dairy and continue hunting for vegan cosmetics. The dairy industry is equally cruel as egg-hatcheries.

 

[WRITER]

This makes me really sad.

I have been almost vegan for a while, and this puts me over the fence. I have been buying organic and cage free eggs, but I'm going to avoid the industry altogether.

 

[LaughingWater]

...what do you do about buying things that contain eggs already, like baked goods? Or even Oreos?? They're cookies, they must contain eggs.

Last time I checked, Oreos do not have eggs in them. I do read the ingredients list every time I buy them though, just in case something changes.

Not all cookies contain eggs, but vegan cookies are very hard to find. Whole Foods sells a good chocolate chip cookie minus the egg and dairy. In the end, however, I end up making them myself. (That way we can eat the raw dough too. )

Same thing with other baked goods at the store. Most of them are off-limits for me, so I make much of it from scratch.

 

[cockateils]

The disrespect for life makes me sick. Yeah, how dare the chicks have the nerve to be born male, thereby inconveniencing the human population. Grrr....

If anyone is concerned about the treatment of factory farm animals or wants to know more, check out the book Farm Sanctuary or farmsanctuary.org.

I agree about Farm Sanctuary. I am a member and I have adopted a chicken and a rabbit and pay monthly for their keep (I am sure they just put the money in one pot) - they sent me photos and how the animal was brought to them. And when one passes on, they send a letter about what happened and another animal to take its place. Very wonderful group. They help all factory farm animals that are lucky enough to be rescued.

 

[NY25]

Disgusting. Sounds to me like there are at least one too many male corporate executives on the planet - no use for him - send him to the grinder!!! You can't even call people like this animals, because it's an afront to actual animals! Animals would never think up this sorts of horrific things. Who in history came up with this crap and said - "yea, that's a good idea!!"
I do get my eggs from the grocery store, but it's a brand called Nellie's Nest. They are "certified humane" and when I went to the website, it appears they must meet a very high standard to get the label, although I presume this doesn't apply to the hatchery source. sigh. It's really troubling what we as a society do to animals to feed our gluttunous nature. Very sad.

 

[shelsmaha]

Tamrahan I actually live in Johnston...I just say Des Moines for ease! You should look at moving to Johnston it is an awesome place to live!!

Oreos are vegan as are nabisco ginger snaps. There is a website that tells you if things are vegan or not...I think it is "Is it vegan" you could google it! You can use egg replacer in baked goods at home. That is my BIGGEST problem is I LOVE bakery goods...sometimes I give in

 

[Jennifit]

This makes me really sad.

I have been almost vegan for a while, and this puts me over the fence. I have been buying organic and cage free eggs, but I'm going to avoid the industry altogether.

Me, too. Sick.
I know people are going to get mad at me for asking this, but what is Eggland's Best policy?

 

[LaughingWater]

I know people are going to get mad at me for asking this, but what is Eggland's Best policy?

The FAQ section of their website is interesting. They claim caging and clipping the beak of the hen is somehow in her best interest. They also seem to think forced molting is okay. *shrug*

Honestly, I don't think one can mass produce eggs humanely. Not in this current atmosphere anyway, as the bigger, less ethical companies will put you right out of business.

 

[jlsahli]

The FAQ section of their website is interesting. They claim caging and clipping the beak of the hen is somehow in her best interest. They also seem to think forced molting is okay. *shrug*

Honestly, I don't think one can mass produce eggs humanely. Not in this current atmosphere anyway, as the bigger, less ethical companies will put you right out of business.

Interesting. I didn't know what forced molting was so I looked it up. FYI, in case anyone is unsure. Appalling. . .

http://www.upc-online.org/molting/

What is Forced Molting?

The practice of starving hens for profit is known as forced-molting. Molting literally refers to the replacement of old feathers by new ones. In nature, birds replace all their feathers in the course of a year to maintain good plumage at all times. A natural molt often happens at the onset of winter, when nature discourages the hatching of chicks. The hen stops laying eggs and concentrates her energies on staying warm and growing new feathers.

The egg industry exploits this natural process by forcing an entire flock to molt simultaneously. This is done to manipulate the marketplace and to pump a few hundred more eggs out of exhausted hens when it is deemed cheaper to "recycle" them rather than immediately slaughter them after a year of relentless egg- laying on a calcium-deficient diet.

To trigger the physiological shock of the forced molt, a University of California poultry researcher (Donald Bell) recommends the removal of all food for no less than five days and as long as fourteen days. Survivors may be force-molted two or three times, based on economics. At any given time over 6 million hens in the U.S. are being systematically starved in their cages, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Peter Dun, an animal scientist from Scotland, said hens are force molted in the United States "until their combs turn blue."

 

[sparrow13]

Molting is hard on hens in general. It can really shock their system. How awful that they'd be forced into it, and probably not given the extra care they need during this time, like additional protein.

Sigh.

 

[Lastchance09]

Sorry, I can't watch the video. However, I do get my eggs from a farmer at a greenmarket.

 

[kathryn]

For those that only eat local eggs, what do you do about buying things that contain eggs already, like baked goods? Or even Oreos?? They're cookies, they must contain eggs. And, what do local farmers do with the male chicks? They are probably "disposed" of too...does anyone know how?

Any time there are chickens hatched, some of them will be male, and in most cases, they are not of much use to egg farmers (just as male calves are not of much use to milk farmers). I'm sure they dispose of them in some way, that's just the reality of using animals to produce food on more than just a small basis.

Actually, I think Oreos are vegan (at least some types of them are).

(Back from a quick web search: YES, Oreos are vegan. Here's a link to a list of junky crap that doesn't contain eggs or dairy :
http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/VeganShoppingQS-Snacks.asp?Category=Snacks

There are also vegan products available from online stores that sell only vegan things, like www.veganessentials.com and www.veganstore.com . (They also both have storefronts. VE is in Wisconsin, but I don't remember where VS/Pangea is).

 

[kathryn]

I do read the ingredients list every time I buy them though, just in case something changes.

That's always a good idea with pre-packaged food, as they do seem to like to suddenly change recipes and put animal products in. (That happened to me years ago with some kind of candy I was buying. Though maybe it's a good thing, as candy is really NOT a necessity, LOL! But if I'd ever feel like it was, there are PLENTY of vegan options around).

 

[kathryn]

Honestly, I don't think one can mass produce eggs humanely.

ITA

I'm not even sure it's possible to 'produce' any 'animal product' humanely on a large scale. I even question whether it's possible on a small scale. Cows still need to have calves to produce milk, and male calves from milk cows are not desirable, no matter how big or small a farm/factory they are born on. Chickens will lay eggs containing both male and female chicks, and the males aren't much 'use', whether they are in a large operation or a small one.

 

[Jennifit]

Molting is hard on hens in general. It can really shock their system. How awful that they'd be forced into it, and probably not given the extra care they need during this time, like additional protein.

Sigh.

That makes me cry.