Ex Bats!

[Snadger]

BBC NEWS | England | Hens adoption rate 'on the rise'

Spotted the above this morning. A feather in the cap (excuse pun) for the Battery Hen Welfare Trust and suchlike!

[MaureenHall]

That's really good news isn't it! Even more people moving away from battery produced eggs too

[Flummery]

Our Hen Man (where we got the hybrids on Sunday) said poultry ownership had 'gone through the roof' in the last 3 months. He usually has about 6 different hybrids in stock (only had 3 this week) but as the POLs have been sold he's been unable to get more day-olds from the breeders - all sold out! I think if I'd have left it another month I might not have got mine!

Good news for the battery hens though. - some of them, at least. And good to know that there are some people who DO care where their food comes from.

[Hans Mum]

its good news, just hope it doesnt lead to a rise in abandonded chucks when people realise its a 24/7/365 job and you have to have good friends/neighbours to look after them when you're away....even Argos have got a coop in their latest catalogue so it must be a booming area

[davefromthechipie]

Its good to see people are doing this yet still very sad batt farms are still around Farmers need more money for veg/livestock , supermarkets should be made to pay them more and take less profit ,Just a shame the guys at number 10 are to busy shopping at M&S ,and at THE same time planing on their next missile attack on the pda. one day One day

its good news, just hope it doesnt lead to a rise in abandonded chucks when people realise its a 24/7/365 job and you have to have good friends/neighbours to look after them when you're away....even Argos have got a coop in their latest catalogue so it must be a booming area

Didnt believe it! then just looked on the Argos site .......... Please NOone buy this house lol I,m sure even a mouse wouldnt like to live in that amount of space

[Poultrykeeper]

Excellent news - (about the BHWT not the Argos Chook house!) I'm trying to raise �250 for them this year - got �40 so far so a little way to go yet but there's still time!

My fundraising page: Poultrykeeper Fundraising Page

Have you also seen the pdf on egg friendly foods on the RSPCA site? It's a useful guide to see which products contain only Free Range Eggs. It's surprising how many foods there are that have caged hens eggs in them.

RSPCA Guide to products containing Free-Range Eggs (pdf) It's quite big (28 pages) so may take a little while to load if you're on a slow connection.

Sainsbury decided to ban battery hen eggs this February. This was a massive step in the right direction. If only Tesco would follow suit, they are far bigger and would have a huge impact on the number of caged hens...

Sainsbury ban battery hen eggs.

Tim

[MaureenHall]

So who have we got banning selling or using battery hens eggs in their foods now then? Sainsbury's, M&S, Co-op, Hellmans ........................ any more?

[Hilary B]

Waitrose haven't sold battery eggs for years, and their 'own brand' food they only use free range (also for years).

Bet ASDA don't join in!

[kirsty b]

I've just looked at the argos one too, I wouldn't use it as a chook house, unless it was temporary for a broody raising babies before they could go in the big run. May do for a lazy rabbit!

I'll be looking to increase my little flock this year, have had some losses over the winter, and have room for 6 more.