Battery Hens - please help

Elegran

But many supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury,Lidl etc) have already comitted (in around 2012) to phasing out the use of caged eggs by the end of 2025. I couldn't find definite info on whether they have successfully completed that phasing out.

I haven't noticed any eggs from caged birds in those supermarkets for some time although they had to be kept in barns when there was the outbreak of avian flu not long ago.

You have a point.
Whilst I can see how a puppy is for life, and all animals, of course, I doubt too many children ask for their very own chicken for Christmas.

You'd have to hope that people are responsible enough to look up and research about an animal before taking it on.

I have concerns about this post - noone would suggest taking in a puppy for Christmas but hens require just as much commitment. They require attention several times every single day and suitable housing, equipment and feed does not come cheap. In most cases they cannot roam freely as they will wreck your garden and get eaten by a fox.
I have 3 - not ex-battery.I enjoy having them and their eggs are delicious but this is not something to be taken on lightly. Also I would not describe them as cuddly. One of mine has a vicious peck!

But many supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury,Lidl etc) have already comitted (in around 2012) to phasing out the use of caged eggs by the end of 2025. I couldn't find definite info on whether they have successfully completed that phasing out.

"The Scottish government's preference is for a ban on the installation of new cages from 2033, followed by a complete ban on keeping birds in enriched cages from 2034.
Ministers believe this option "most effectively balances improvements in bird welfare and ensures sustainability for the laying hen sector
But the consultation also seeks views on banning the use of enriched cages from 2030 and it proposes a non-regulatory option, which would see shops and caterers commit to stop selling and using eggs from birds kept in enriched cages by 2034."

22 September 2021 hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-09-22/debates/3E79001A-C8B4-4DD7-8877-DC8A1E15DD2D/HenCaging(Prohibition)

14 Jul 2023 www.poultrynews.co.uk/production/rspca-warns-battery-hen-eggs-could-be-back-as-uk-government-drops-the-ball.html

2 Apr 2024 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68718569 "Scotland proposes UK's first ban on caging laying hens"

I think the best thing to do is veto eggs.
I should, but easier to close my eyes to the suffering...
I buy free range, but not sure that makes much difference, in reality.

PS I am not bragging. I aim to let it be known there are people actually doing something to stem the cruelty.

I thought battery eggs were illegal in the UK. I am very sorry we permit this abominable cruelty. I D/D to PETA monthly.

I have one survivor from 4 I rehomed, they soon settled down and although they get rid of them at 18 months because their rate of laying goes down, nobody told them and they continued to lay, I still have one left 3 and a half years later and she still lays an egg most days. She does have a cock for company so isn't lonely
One of them died nearly 2 years after rescue, another about 2 and a half years after rescue and another 3 years later.
5 years old is old for a rescue, but non rescues can live 11 years, so very sad, it takes it out of them laying every day, they need a lot of good food.
They are so friendly to people, and they all have their own characters.
Best not to put jumpers on them as when the feathers start coming through they catch on the jumpers and that's painful for them.
Yes you do need to register with defra but it only takes a few minutes so not a big deal
Rats are there before you bring chickens into the garden, that I know for sure, next doors cats used to catch them before I had hens, and I would occasionally find a nest in the compost heap, they come up from the stream nearby and from the railway embankment nearby. You just become more aware of them as they eat the feed. So lots of mesh and stones and bricks etc if ever you see a hole or see signs of them. My old hens did get killed by a fox, I've tightened up on security now and the foxes now just snack on bunny rabbits in the fields down the road.

Good to know the down sides. DaisyL.

Thank you.

I got six ex battery chickens 18 months ago - one died the next day, the fox took one and another died after six months but I still have three (+ 3 bantams and 5 other chickens). The ex battery ones arrived looking terrible with hardly any feathers but they look great now, they were also laying eggs with wrinkled shells (usually lack of calcium) but now they are normal. They are very rewarding but it is not all plain sailing. I have a ratproof feeder and automatic closer on the coop. Also you now have to register any chickens with DEFRA - even if you only have one.

Mine too, plus I'm in a council flat.
I cant see a flock of free ranging chickens being popular.

pS. My neighbourhood if full of cats and foxes. The hens would be distressed and killed for sure.

Battery hens are an evilly produced ‘product’ And that is what they are. A product. Not little creatures with nervous systems.. The cruelty is unspeakable and the conditions they are held in absolutely disgusting.
If people knew the truth of how they are reared they would never eat another egg. Barn eggs are not that much better.
I have recently become vegan because of the levels of cruelty in all animal farming especially also in the production of milk.

That doesn't sound like a very nice uncle! What a horrible thing to do, no wonder you are phobic of chickens you poor thing.

We kept hens ( rescued battery hens) for years in a small field with a shed. Eggs were wonderful! Problem was, where there are hens you tend to get rats.

Development Conditions on properties prohibits keeping poultry. Apart from that very wooded area with foxes around.

I would love to, but I can't see my cat looking upon hens with a friendly eye.
He chases the pheasants off the property.

I’d love to help, but have a phobia about chickens. I was bitten on bottom by one as a small child when visiting family who kept them. My uncle used to tease me about it for years, as I ran into the house screaming and lay on the couch sobbing, so whenever we went to visit, he used to lie on the couch pretending to cry.😂😂😂

This breaks my heart. I hope as many as possible can be saved.

Someone here put up a pic once, of her daughters (?) battery hens.
They had little knitted ponchos on, to keep them warm as they had hardly any feathers.

Georgesgran

My small development has covenants which prohibit keeping pigeons, pigs or poultry.

I wish our resident pigeons had read our deeds.

My small development has covenants which prohibit keeping pigeons, pigs or poultry.

LucyAnna2

Jaxjacky

Nor here Allra according to our deeds.

Oh, I’ve never heard of that. Are you on an estate?

Just a cul-de-sac but no, we're not supposed to have hens.

There's a fox around anyway and I just couldn't look after hens now so I'll look forward to seeing DD's.