Petition to ban battery cages

melons · Post by **melons** » 09 Nov 2007, 09:21

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/378546135
As usual I've signed it.

Post by **wendy** » 09 Nov 2007, 10:51

signed and I will try to pass it on
Wendy

Willow · Post by **Willow** » 09 Nov 2007, 11:04

Signed and will pass it on..

Citrine · Post by **Citrine** » 09 Nov 2007, 11:06

...Signed and passing on...

Speckledhen · Post by **Speckledhen** » 09 Nov 2007, 13:45

Signed.

Will try and set up a post to another website, who have a petition going to ban the public sale of fireworks, something I know a few of us would like to see!

Michele

melons · Post by **melons** » 09 Nov 2007, 13:51

Can I have that one in return then please, I hate them.
Thanks

Post by **Richard** » 09 Nov 2007, 15:25

The EU aren't banning Battery Farming, they're just banning the barren cage for the new 'enchanced' one.

The new 'cage' is slightly bigger, has a perch and a litter area. That's what's happening in 2012. The birds still won't see daylight, have a normal sun up sun down day, see and feel grass etc., let alone see any people probably!

I know the petition is in the right spirit and at least the enchanced cage is starting to get there.

Only a total ban altogether is acceptable.......

The RSPCA, VIVA and CIWF have been running these campaigns and petitions for quite a while.

CIWF and VIVA have some really big names behind them and (at the moment) seem to be getting the best mileage on contacts and moving forward etc.
Ministers listen to them (or they tend to hold up traffic at Dover Docks etc!!)

These sites endorse a total ban on any caged hens.

Post by **Richard** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:20

I've just read my above post again and apologise if it comes over as a tad negative.

I'll explain.

The EU Directive is for the enchanced cage, so by petitioning for this, you could be read as endorsing hens still being kept indoors in a round about way ?

The website is a petition website, whereas the 'main liners' are specialists in their field and will send the petition along with all the legal and moral arguements. Plus they have contact with Government.

I wrote to the Minister not long ago and in my usual casual way of trying to explain things not very well, said I can't see why we can't free range completely.
We free range sheep in fields. Surely 15,000 chickens don't take up much field space compared to Sheep, if they're for Eggs or Broiler purposes ! Also, there are enough unused fields in this Country doing nothing but being subsidised !

I also have contact with my local MP who has raised issues on my behalf and has replied with up-dates etc.

I strongly believe there is absolutely no reason not to free range 100%.

Battery Farms were developed during the War where the troops were more easily fed with fresh eggs. They'd take baskets around with chickens in (my Dad told me this).
Obviously, on the Home Front there was a demand, so Farms were built to supply the eggs.

After the conflicts, they just didn't get shutdown. Guess someone said "Hey this is a good idea for cheap eggs.

Oh dear, I do apologise, it's just I see contact with local MP and associating with the larger Charities (inc. Battery Welfare Trust) as being far more pro-active and having more chance of action.
Look at the publicity they get!"

Please, please don't feel I'm being the 'know all' because I'm certainly not.

I just want to see chickens outside enjoying themselves!

Richard

PS - Haven't had an answer yet!

Post by **wendy** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:30

I also wrote to Hilary Benn when he was first given the job, about the plight of Battery Hens. He also hasn't had the good grace to answer me either. Even sling your hook would have been more polite than nowt.
I think the hope of getting completely free range eggs, is a very far off hope at the moment. I honestly don't think it will happen in my lifetime. But if we can at least ease it a little for future hens [and there will be many, many future hens] I think it is worth trying. Otherwise they will all have to have the hopeless situation our girls had to endure.
I will complain, badger, petition until I die to stop this terrible practice.
Wendy

Post by **Richard** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:42

Wendy,

You have more inside knowledge than I do on the Battery situation.

As the Petition website allows you to do any petition you want (it's a public generated petition, anyone can put one up), Why not do one yourself for the total ban?
You could get the necessary 1,000 no trouble!
Channel all your want into one!

I'm sure you have more clout than many and can link the situation to your website and develop quite 'a gathering'!!

We need the 60's spirit back in many ways. Go to the streets!!! :-D

I just see the TV News sometimes of someone handing in a petition at No.10 and wonder what happens to it!!

Maybe I'm just too cynical!

Post by **wendy** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:47

Never thought of that Richard. Maybe I should look into it.
I took to the streets way back, that's why you ladies are better paid than you were.
I was widowed at 24 with two small babies, I couldn't get a mortgage, have hire purchase, was paid half that of a man doing the same job and realised I was treated as a second class citizen because I was female. Got me a bit mad that did.
Oh the enthusiasm of youth LOL
Wendy

Post by **Richard** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:56

That is very sad Wendy, must have been terrible at that time.

My main point is that you have 'the tools' and the character to be a good leader in these things although I appreciate time etc.
I'm sure you could drum up something special, far better than I could.

A good insight is by going to 'Youtube' and typing in Battery Hens or Battery Farms. There's some revealing stuff there albeit some are hard to watch.

Richard

Post by **wendy** » 09 Nov 2007, 17:05

Seen it Richard and it makes you weep.
I am getting the guy who runs my website to have a look at the petition thingy as we speak !!!
He is much better than I am with these 'puter' things. As you all know all too well.
Wendy

Post by **Richard** » 09 Nov 2007, 17:07

I'm harping on now.

The only Battery Farm I've been in closed down after he got most of the chickens home's.

Do you know why he closed down (I know this because he told me)

He got a consience!

In that way, publicity strikes home more than anything else. Newspaper articles, TV Snippits, Radio etc. will make people think "Is what I'm doing going to make me a very un-popular person"

The Farmer now has a beautiful field full of chickens and he looks a lot happier and more healthy man!

(Wendy - ask him about embedding some of those video's. It's very easy. I've done it here and there as you know).

chucky egg · Post by **chucky egg** » 09 Nov 2007, 17:34

You lot know far more tahn me with regards to ex-batts and so on BUT.
There are still so many people out there 'innocently buying the cheap eggs at supermarkets. It seems taht showing pictures and telling the sad tales has meant they've been 'flooded ' wtih info and have now switched off. At work a lady buys my eggs and has expounded on how lovely they are etc etc . One of her colleagues wasn't abit interested; got her 10 eggs from a**a for 50p or something so didn't care. I sued to buy my sarnies and tell them funny stories (as we do on here) about the chucks. Suddenly they became real. Teh situation became real and she stopped buying her cheap eggs. She proudly told me taht she'd bought free range from a**a at so much. Didn't eat them mind, as she forgot them. She now buys them from me a dozen at a time and tells EVERYONE (and belive me she's a chatty person who is in a cafe) that she only gets eggs from ahappy hens. Totally converted. Even eats teh eggs herself were she didn't used to.
Sometimes every little helps.... I found if you forced this on people they just turned away. Yet the softy approach did wonders. For me anyway.

Would be happy to sign any total ban petition and know many more taht would do too at work here and at home.
Thanks for reading
Chucky Egg