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Battery Hens

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gregory
Died May 2009 R.I.P
Posts: 184
Joined: July 28th, 2007, 10:34 am

Battery Hens

#1 Post by gregory » March 28th, 2009, 11:07 am

What is the gen on battery hens these days? Weren't the government going to phase them out. Which shops only use free range in their products? How do we tell people about free range some friends of mine although working in an environment which helps humans who have been abused do not know about free range even though their clients re female and hens are female too. We should get the chefs to keep on about it although somepeople do not have time to watch television, perhaps a bus campaign?
There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#2 Post by Nick » March 28th, 2009, 1:23 pm

I think we should end battery hens by plugging them directly into the mains :D

More seriously, I think there is progress on this problem. I think some supermarkets now stock only free range eggs, MacDonald's use only free range eggs, and there is much publicity from Hugh Fernley-W and Jamie Oliver.

A friend of mine keeps "retired" battery chickens. Some come to him with no feathers, which they have lost because of the heat, crippled legs because they couldn't move properly, and beaks clipped to stop them pecking each other. The zeitgeist is moving, but I for one would like to see legislation to end the practice of keeping chickens in batteries.

clayto
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Joined: July 22nd, 2007, 6:34 pm

Re: Battery Hens

#3 Post by clayto » March 28th, 2009, 4:28 pm

I understand Sainsbury's no longer sell eggs from 'caged birds' but am not sure if they sell 'barn eggs' and what the pros / cons of that are.

What about the use of eggs in various products such as cakes and even Quorn? Can one check if they are free range?

Chris
clayto

gregory
Died May 2009 R.I.P
Posts: 184
Joined: July 28th, 2007, 10:34 am

Re: Battery Hens

#4 Post by gregory » April 5th, 2009, 10:33 am

Thanks Nick and Chris.

I think Quorn is free range. I would like to see Tescos and Mr Kipling etc putting free range in their baking products as I do not know if what they use.
There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover

gregory
Died May 2009 R.I.P
Posts: 184
Joined: July 28th, 2007, 10:34 am

Re: Battery Hens

#5 Post by gregory » April 5th, 2009, 10:37 am

Thanks Chris and Nick I would be interested in tckling Tesco and Mr Kidpling.

Did you get this reply twice my computer seems to be doing funny things this morning.
There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#6 Post by Nick » April 5th, 2009, 10:46 am

I've just sent Mr Kipling a query : do they use eggs from battery chickens in their cakes?



Let's hope Mr Kipling makes an exceedingly good response. :D

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Alan C.
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Re: Battery Hens

#7 Post by Alan C. » April 5th, 2009, 12:11 pm

Eggs from battery hens are no longer available anywhere in Shetland, folk wouldn't buy them.
The two dozen chucks that provide our eggs have nine acres to wander around.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

Nick
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Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#8 Post by Nick » April 5th, 2009, 11:30 pm

Nine acres! I'm surprised you manage to find the eggs!

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Alan C.
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Re: Battery Hens

#9 Post by Alan C. » April 6th, 2009, 9:29 am

Nick wrote:Nine acres! I'm surprised you manage to find the eggs!
Are you having a laugh? :rolleyes: they lay the eggs in nest boxes inside the henhouse, they don't just drop them here there and everywhere.






But I suspect you knew that.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#10 Post by Nick » April 8th, 2009, 12:43 pm

My mind was wandering..... I was thinking of a City Slickers style expedition on horseback....


IIRC there was a Python sketch about a mouse ranch.


Ridin' out to brand 6 mice in 30,000 acres......


*no mice were harmed in the making of this sketch*

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#11 Post by Nick » April 8th, 2009, 12:46 pm

Nick wrote:I've just sent Mr Kipling a query : do they use eggs from battery chickens in their cakes?



Let's hope Mr Kipling makes an exceedingly good response. :D


Unfortunately, it was not. Here it is:
08 April 2009


Dear Mr Burton

Thank you for your e-mail regarding the use of eggs in our products.

As a responsible manufacturer, we carry out considerable research and consider all the options before deciding on ingredients to use in our products.

In the case of free range eggs, we actually use reconstiuted egg in those of our products which contain egg as an ingredient. We are currently unable to source a free range supply of this at a commercially viable price.

This is an issue that we take very seriously and I appreciate the comments you have made about the matter. We will certainly consider using free range in the future if this situation changes.

Thank you for letting us know your views about the matter.

Yours sincerely


Kevin Moseley
Customer Care Manager
Mr Kipling Cakes

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jaywhat
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Re: Battery Hens

#12 Post by jaywhat » April 8th, 2009, 1:27 pm

Would you call something made of reconstituted egg 'quality' food.
If I were a food manufacturer I would not like to admit that - but perhaps they have to.

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jaywhat
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Re: Battery Hens

#13 Post by jaywhat » April 8th, 2009, 1:28 pm

Alan C. wrote:Eggs from battery hens are no longer available anywhere in Shetland, folk wouldn't buy them.
...but do they buy Mr Kipling cakes?



[When do battery hens get recharged?]

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Battery Hens

#14 Post by Nick » April 8th, 2009, 1:51 pm

It's only lack of space that stops Alan C growing cakes. :D



Could one use egg plant....?




:wink:

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Alan C.
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Re: Battery Hens

#15 Post by Alan C. » April 8th, 2009, 2:18 pm

jay
but do they buy Mr Kipling cakes?
Probably, we don't. I did used to sell them in a previous life though.

The bakeries here (I've worked in two of them) use Shetland eggs, which are all free range.
Nick
Could one use egg plant....?
Or poached egg plants, which are good cos they attract hoverfly and hoverfly eat aphids.
Image
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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