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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Cage free chickens?
This may sound dumb, but what is the deal with this? I was trying to buy eggs the other day, and I never noticed so many choices, one of them being eggs from "cage-free chickens". I don't understand what having the chickens in cages does to the eggs.
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Posted 6/22/07 1:25 AM  |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: Cage free chickens?
I think cage free is similar to free range - they don't live in cages so it at least implies that the chickens aren't cooped up in tiny cages. Cage free, free range and all of those phrases have meanings, some of which are regulated, some which aren't. I'm sure a google or wikipedia search could help. But the tiny cages they keep chickens in are HORRIBLE, so if cage free is even a small step up, it's a step in the right direction. So basically it doesn't changes the eggs at all, it changes the conditions (and health - lots of health problems can stem from nasty cages) of the chickens laying them.
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| Posted 6/22/07 1:39 AM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Make sure those cage free eggs you buy come from a source where they don't also do regular eggs. I have heard they sometimes get mixed up.
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| Posted 6/22/07 6:47 AM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22132 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Plus, I read that the cage chickens are in such stressful environments that in all honesty, that stress I'm sure effects (affects, never get them straight) the eggs.
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| Posted 6/22/07 6:49 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
whamtastic is right, commerical egg laying chickens in this country are 90% "battery hens" that never see the light of day. They are hatched, put into very small cages as soon as they are old enough to lay, their beaks are cut off so they can't peck eachother & they are feed a sloppy, disgusting wet mixture filled with hormones. Their feet become deformed from living in cages.
They usually die of ovarian cancer within two years. They often lay dead in the cages next to live chickens for days before they are removed.
My chickens will probably live 10-15 years.
The eggs roll out into tracks where they are bleached, pushing the bacteria INTO the egg & by the time we buy a standard white egg in the store its about 30 days old.
Cage-free, free-range, farm-range all mean the egg farmers do not keep the chickens in battery cages. They have a more normal life. Those eggs will often be brown instead of white, because the kind of chickens that lay brown eggs are great at living outside in many different weather conditions.
When you see all natural poultry for sale in the food store, if it says " vegetarian diet" that is not really a good thing, chickens are not herbivors. They should eat some meat, free range chickens eat large bugs, frogs, mice & even snakes.
Although those chickens probably have a much nicer life than the ones raised by perdue or tyson.
Here is are very graphic pics of what it looks like to be a battery hen
Just for comparison, here are my chickens that I raised
They are pets
The state of the food we eat in this country just because the FDA allows it to be sold is scary!!!!
We need to start educating ourselves about WHERE & HOW the food is produced & refuse to buy food that is unhealthy.
We are practically experiencing a plague of cancer in this country amongst many other rare malaties, its time wake up & realize its our food choices & our pollution choices that are killing us.
It is naive to leave your family's nutrition in the government's hands.
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| Posted 6/22/07 6:58 AM |
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lvlz
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 271 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by KellyFG
We need to start educating ourselves about WHERE & HOW the food is produced & refuse to buy food that is unhealthy.
 I agree! I started seeing a lot more organic/free range chicken eggs and meat in the stores, so I did some research. Although the price is slightly higher, it is a significant difference what you're putting into your mouths. Chickens that are fed hormones, etc - that is all being transferred into our bodies!
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| Posted 6/22/07 8:44 AM |
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by KellyFG
whamtastic is right, commerical egg laying chickens in this country are 90% "battery hens" that never see the light of day. They are hatched, put into very small cages as soon as they are old enough to lay, their beaks are cut off so they can't peck eachother & they are feed a sloppy, disgusting wet mixture filled with hormones. Their feet become deformed from living in cages.
They usually die of ovarian cancer within two years. They often lay dead in the cages next to live chickens for days before they are removed.
My chickens will probably live 10-15 years.
The eggs roll out into tracks where they are bleached, pushing the bacteria INTO the egg & by the time we buy a standard white egg in the store its about 30 days old.
Cage-free, free-range, farm-range all mean the egg farmers do not keep the chickens in battery cages. They have a more normal life. Those eggs will often be brown instead of white, because the kind of chickens that lay brown eggs are great at living outside in many different weather conditions.
When you see all natural poultry for sale in the food store, if it says " vegetarian diet" that is not really a good thing, chickens are not herbivors. They should eat some meat, free range chickens eat large bugs, frogs, mice & even snakes.
Although those chickens probably have a much nicer life than the ones raised by perdue or tyson.
Here is are very graphic pics of what it looks like to be a battery hen
IMAGE
IMAGE
Just for comparison, here are my chickens that I raised
IMAGE
They are pets
IMAGE
The state of the food we eat in this country just because the FDA allows it to be sold is scary!!!!
We need to start educating ourselves about WHERE & HOW the food is produced & refuse to buy food that is unhealthy.
We are practically experiencing a plague of cancer in this country amongst many other rare malaties, its time wake up & realize its our food choices & our pollution choices that are killing us.
It is naive to leave your family's nutrition in the government's hands.
OK after seing these pictures I have to say I am so happy I DONT eat chicken, and probably never will again. 
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| Posted 6/22/07 8:46 AM |
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Snozberry
I might steal your diamonds
Member since 2/06 4680 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by KellyFG
When you see all natural poultry for sale in the food store, if it says " vegetarian diet" that is not really a good thing, chickens are not herbivors. They should eat some meat, free range chickens eat large bugs, frogs, mice & even snakes.
Although those chickens probably have a much nicer life than the ones raised by perdue or tyson.
The state of the food we eat in this country just because the FDA allows it to be sold is scary!!!!
We need to start educating ourselves about WHERE & HOW the food is produced & refuse to buy food that is unhealthy.
We are practically experiencing a plague of cancer in this country amongst many other rare malaties, its time wake up & realize its our food choices & our pollution choices that are killing us.
It is naive to leave your family's nutrition in the government's hands.
I'm not even going to tell everyone what 'regular' chickens are fed. But if you can stomach it, look it up.
And I 100% percent agree with you about the public needing to seek out information regarding where and how their food is produced!! It will frighten you. "The Jungle" may have been written in the early 20th century, but don't believe that what Upton Sinclair had to reveal led to any real improvements.
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| Posted 6/22/07 8:49 AM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
I wonder if Organic Chicken Eggs are also cage free.
I thought I was doing a good thing by buying Organic but maybe I am not
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| Posted 6/22/07 8:50 AM |
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lvlz
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 271 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by 5ofClubs
I wonder if Organic Chicken Eggs are also cage free.
I thought I was doing a good thing by buying Organic but maybe I am not
My understanding is that Organic is the best kind you can buy - Organic also implies free to roam outside, plus they are fed certified organic feed.
You have to be careful with "Cage-free / Free Range" b/c there is no federal regulation for that - their access to outdoors could still be literally a hole to put their faces through and that's it.
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:07 AM |
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Re: Cage free chickens?
ugh, its sickening.... 
the fact that they die of Ovarian Cancer within two years is very telling.
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:23 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by JennZ
OK after seing these pictures I have to say I am so happy I DONT eat chicken, and probably never will again.
The pics I posted are only of laying chickens, they are breed only to lay eggs. Once they hatch & their sex can be determined all of the roosters are destroyed & sold for dog food, cosmetics
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| Posted 6/22/07 10:23 AM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
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| Posted 6/22/07 10:41 AM |
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HappyWife
LIF Toddler
Member since 12/06 484 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by lvlz
Posted by 5ofClubs
I wonder if Organic Chicken Eggs are also cage free.
I thought I was doing a good thing by buying Organic but maybe I am not
My understanding is that Organic is the best kind you can buy - Organic also implies free to roam outside, plus they are fed certified organic feed.
You have to be careful with "Cage-free / Free Range" b/c there is no federal regulation for that - their access to outdoors could still be literally a hole to put their faces through and that's it.
The FDA regulates and monitors food labeled "oragnic" and for eggs, it is required that have access to the outdoors but not necessarily free roaming/ranging. The FDA requires that organic eggs are not various types of pesticides.
Free range eggs/chicken doesn't mean that they aren't treated with chemicals or pesticides, just that they do not live in a cage.
This article explains some of the differences in egg choices.
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| Posted 6/22/07 10:59 AM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by 5ofClubs
I wonder if Organic Chicken Eggs are also cage free.
I thought I was doing a good thing by buying Organic but maybe I am not
In the store, I saw "Organic" eggs, plus "Organic, Cage-Free" eggs.
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| Posted 6/22/07 7:36 PM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Very interesting article. Thanks.
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| Posted 6/22/07 7:42 PM |
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Booklady1017
Information Goddess
Member since 5/05 4149 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Cage free chickens?
I agree. Interesting article.
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| Posted 6/22/07 8:49 PM |
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Kidsaplenty
Sister love
Member since 2/06 5971 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by lvlz
Posted by 5ofClubs
I wonder if Organic Chicken Eggs are also cage free.
I thought I was doing a good thing by buying Organic but maybe I am not
My understanding is that Organic is the best kind you can buy - Organic also implies free to roam outside, plus they are fed certified organic feed.
You have to be careful with "Cage-free / Free Range" b/c there is no federal regulation for that - their access to outdoors could still be literally a hole to put their faces through and that's it.
I buy only organic too. So I guess its ok? I've been slowly cutting out meats. We're thinking about going vegan.
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:19 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
very good article, but there are a couple of things I disagree with,
brown eggs come from chickens with red earlobes, white eggs come from chickens with white earlobes, Feather color has nothing to do with it. However, the nutritional value is the same.
Although no hormones are approved by the FDA, there are "supplements" that commercial egg producers are using that are actually hormones. Not to mention these chickens are started on feed with antibotics mixed in from the day they hatch.
My chickens' eggs are "free range, omega-3, organic eggs"
I don't sell them, I only give them away. If I decided to sell them I'd need to become a certified organic farm or remove the organic part from my labels.
My chickens have never had a medicine of any kind, they eat organic chicken feed, leftover organic people food, fresh veggies, flaxseed, fresh fish and believe it or not-cooked eggs.
While I understand veganism, I'm personally not a fan. I think people can make very healthy food choices (that can include better treatment of the animal products we eat) without giving up on meats completely.
When it comes to the chickens we eat, they pump them up with so many "enhancers", it only takes 6 weeks for them to reach slaughter age.
I have a couple of chickens that are breeds people eat & it took them 10 months to mature to the weight of the average broiler chicken.
Its just wrong.
I have commited myself to paying more for food I can feel good about feeding my family. I'd rather have less of something else & peace of mind that we are eating better food.
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:47 PM |
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Re: Cage free chickens?
I am a vegan because I personally am opposed to chickens being kept somewhere for their eggs. The egg industry is HORRIFIC - when chickens are kept in cages, they are so packed in that they either peck each other to death, or their beaks are cut off to prevent this from happening. Also, the cage wires cut their feet. Cage free chickens are still cooped up in pens, but its a bit more humane than cage...
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:55 PM |
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Re: Cage free chickens?
They usually die of ovarian cancer within two years.
these chickens actually LIVE for 2 years????
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:56 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by lipglossjunky73
I am a vegan because I personally am opposed to chickens being kept somewhere for their eggs. The egg industry is HORRIFIC - when chickens are kept in cages, they are so packed in that they either peck each other to death, or their beaks are cut off to prevent this from happening. Also, the cage wires cut their feet. Cage free chickens are still cooped up in pens, but its a bit more humane than cage...
This is why I raise my own chickens. Humans were designed to hunt, gather & perform animal husbandry, not eat processed crap out of a bag or can.
Everyone can eat better food, it just takes work.
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| Posted 6/22/07 9:58 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Posted by lipglossjunky73
They usually die of ovarian cancer within two years.
these chickens actually LIVE for 2 years????
It is an egg producers goal to get two years out a laying hen, if they live past two years(which is rare) they are usually "burnt out" meaning they don't lay anymore. They are killed or sometimes if they are really lucky they are sold at auctions for pennies to hobby farmers that rescue them.
Here are battery hens that were rescued by a woman I know through a chicken keeping message board
Their combs (on top of their heads)
are huge like that from the hormones they've been fed. Look at the difference in the pics of my chickens.
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| Posted 6/22/07 10:04 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Cage free chickens?
Is this the state of chickens only in the US? How does it compare with the way other countries around the world produce chicken and eggs?
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| Posted 6/23/07 12:35 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cage free chickens?
In many places in the world citizens keep chickens of their own so the demand for eggs is not like here.
I know the UK has websites against battery hens & I'm sure there are countries with even more corrupt regulators than the USDA & FDA, I can only imagine what goes on in those places.
All of the places where humans were thought to have contracted Avian flu were in food processing areas in less developed countries. Only really poor sanitary conditions could allow that to happen.
The problem is huge because in this country the poorest, least educated people can not afford to make healthy food choices. So food produced in disgusting conditions that sells cheaply will always have a demand.
The rest of us need to refuse to support it & use our knowledge & money to support healthier living.
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| Posted 6/23/07 7:14 AM |
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Thank you
