[HappyHippy]

And free rang ....well, this is debatable. Having seen a free range egg unit, I was rather amazed when the side of the big shed opened, and down a ramp walked probably 500 hens, into a small paddock.  Some did not bother coming out, probably knew there was not room for them all.  So, people are buying free range eggs, off hens that are so tightly packed, there is no way they can walk round the field.

Slightly off topic, I know, but I thought to be able to call your eggs 'free range' the chickens had to have a minimum of 10sq meters each to range in - which is precisely why my 7 in their 60 sq m run are producing 'farm fresh' eggs 

Roxy, how is your wee one doing ? Any improvement ?

Annie, I've started doing the egg thing in the shops - to the point even the kids start talking very loudly about 'battered chickens with no feathers' as we pass the eggs, and god forbid anyone takes them on, cos they just launch into their version of my speil ! 

[little blue]

HH, that made me laugh!
I too rant about various animal - related things... one of my so-called friends says "Micro pigs" just to wind me up and watch me go...   

[plumseverywhere]

we stood behind a lady the other day who put a tray of 15/20 eggs onto the tesco conveyor and they were labelled " battery farmed eggs". My 8 year old looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "mummy, that is just SO wrong, you have to say something" but the woman buying them was a polish lady, probalby a farm worker on a pittance. goes to show though that the next generation of our kids have a good idea of what is right and wrong with egg production. maybe one day we'll see a change for the better 

[sheardale]

no eggs today either from the ex bat.  They are eating and  drinking plenty.  Love being outdoors.. Its a job and a half trying toget them in before dark  LOL   Theyare happy so thats the main thing

Cheers helen

[Roxy]

The little hen died this afternoon.  With doing the hen rescue, you do have to harden yourself sometimes, but this little hen was the worst I have brought out.  Her breast bone was stuck out, and she hardly had any feathers.  She was eating well enough, but obviously it was not doing her any good.  Yesterday, she wanted to go out in the field, so I let her, and she wobbled off with the other hens.  Today, she was all hunched up, and I could see she was on the way out.

I am used to hens dying, but do feel sad that I could not help this one. But at least she had a little time out of the cages, which is something.
If people saw her, they would certainly think twice about what eggs to buy.

[jameslindsay]

Thats is a shame Roxy but as you say she certainly enjoyed a far happier end to her wee life than she did the start of it.

[doganjo]

I'm going to print the photo of Scraggie Aggie and take it to Kinross Show on Saturday with a notice - don't buy eggs from caged hens.  Hopefully Carol will let me put it on the display board.

[plumseverywhere]

I think that's a brilliant idea Annie. Until I actually saw some ex-bats (at Adam Henson's farm) I didnt' realise just how bad it was - I think we all try to conjure up and idea based on what we are told but seeing is believing.
I remember standing there and not being able to stop the tears, must have looked like a right daft woman but those poor hens 

Tony goes to assess farms where 'barn eggs' are laid and says things are really not much better.
A far cry from mine who get goats milk daily, fresh veg, toys and porage in the winter !!

[Fleecewife]

When we first started keeping hens we proudly took some free range eggs as a gift to a new acqaintance.  We were stunned that they didn't want them    The reason was that they thought free range eggs were dirty (ours were immaculate) and that they were 'dropped in the dirt' wherever the hen happened to be when the egg came out  and could be any age as we just 'picked them up when we found them'    They preferred battery eggs because they were laid in nice clean cages  .  Obviously we did our best to educate them, telling them that we collect the eggs from nice clean nest boxes several times a day and that the hens are happy and healthy, but they are the type of townie who likes everything immaculate and sprayed with bactericides, disinfectants, anti-this and anti-that.  So we gave up there, having previously not suspected that such people could exist, with such ignorance and no concern whatsoever for animal welfare.  We did invite them out to see for themselves but we might as well have invited them to the deepest slums of Mumbai (apologies to Mumbai  ) such was their distaste.
My point is that publicity needs to be aimed at educating people to the high quality of outdoor reared hens and their free range eggs as well as putting them off the battery system, or you risk just putting them off eggs in general.

[doganjo]

My point is that publicity needs to be aimed at educating people to the high quality of outdoor reared hens and their free range eggs as well as putting them off the battery system, or you risk just putting them off eggs in general.

We will have some lovely fluffy young hens and chicks there too.

[Roxy]

One of my egg customers took some extra eggs for her neighbour.  The next time she came, she said the lady said they were not nice - a funny colour, and very rich tasting.  She said she preferred the  cheap eggs from supermarket.  The lady had tried to explain thats what a free range egg looks and tastes like.  Well, it takes all sorts .......

Some people just avoid knowing the truth about where their food comes from.  What they don't know will not hurt them, and they are happy to live in ignorant bliss.

[jameslindsay]

It's a sad and scarey world we live in is it not?

[scattybiker1972]

i tried a while ago to get people interested in my quail eggs,now theyl eat them at resteraunts because they are an expensive delicacy,but free?no way could eat them .organicly fed outdoor acess,  fresh veg and not kept in sheds,
but theyl pay through the nose in posh places   

[Roxy]

People are very strange, aren't they?  I would have thought the posh people would be stampeding for your quail eggs, to impress their dinner guests!!!!

I have ever had a quail egg, although a friend said they would let me have some.  Must have forgotten.

[scattybiker1972]

theyre really posh looking in salads..taste yummy too .pester for some eggs.....or keep some yourself theyre really easy just need a rabbit hutch and a run..cheap to feed as well and you can have roast  quail for dinner really posh..