Battery Cages where egg laying hens are kept. Note - not only can they not move, they are debeaked.
Debeaking - beaks are seared off with a red hot blade. One reason this is done is to prevent them from pecking their neighbor to death....
Another look at the caged hens.... and their waste.
And this is how the "Free Range" Boiler chickens are kept. Their only freedom is that they are not in individual cages....
The above two pictures are "Free Range" turkeys. Also debeaked. Like many "free-range" and "organic" animals, these young turkeys are crowded together in a filthy shed and will not see the sun or breathe fresh air until the day they're taken to slaughter.
In today's Turkey Farms, the turkeys are bred (and drugged) to grow quickly and maximize the "white meat." Because of this they are often crippled under their own weight, and can not mate naturally.
These are the "Pig Factory" farms. Again - horribly crowded. Pigs are social animals and very intelligent. On these farms there is no mental stimulation, which often leads to insanity and compulsive chewing of the metal cages.
The gestinational pigs don't fare much better, often kept in these confining cages for their entire life.
I was gonna show you the cows, but it was just too heartbreaking. Especially the veal calves. And the pictures of beef cattle walking in waste halfway up their legs. The feedlots are abominable. The confinement of beef and dairy cattle in shoulder to shoulder conditions is awful. The cows look at you with human-like eyes....
One other thing - the waste of these animals (way too many animals for the size of the area they are confined in) kept on these farms is destroying the air, water and soil around them. To say nothing of the waste and indigestion produced gases that contribute to global warming. I'm just saying.....
So, I will leave you there. I encourage everyone to become educated about the food you eat, so you can make wise choices. There are ethical farms and companies out there, it just takes some work to find them.....
A couple other good books are: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, 101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian by Pamela Rice and a book I have just purchased, and hope is good - The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan.
Then, there's corn........
food ethics
Free Range Chickens
2 comments:
:-). Yea, I have been a vegetarian for awhile now... largely in part of things similar to what you posted. And I dabble in veganism, but i can not devote the energy to do it well...
And Omnivore's Dilemna is a FANTASTIC book. :-)
Granted I'm coming to this party way late in my life. And, I haven't read or seen what is out there. But, my first reaction isn't to give up on meat, or chicken. And, let's not forget that fish have feelings, too.
My first reaction is "How can I support those who are taking the animal into consideration?"
Since I was born with incisors, and I have a need for complete proteins, I will not be giving up meat. Heck, I love bacon too much, let's just be honest.
However, I think I WILL be looking into local alternative sources for meat. (Geesh, I just jumped right over the step of getting produce from a CSA and now apparently I'm looking for a personal meat purveyor?)
Well, anyway, for me, I think the answer may be paying more for something locally raised. Perhaps that might mean eating meat less - due to availability and the hit to my pocketbook. Probably. Most likely.
Now, I have to put in the leg work. Bleck. Mega-marts are much easier.
My life was easier a month ago before I ate pork jowl...long story.
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