I found myself wanting to see an after photo of your rescue birds. You captured both the hopelessness and the hopeful emotions of this huge problem we all live with.
The restoration of health, given half a chance with Nature as their new world, is remarkable, isn't it? Thanks for the straight talk and contrasting pics. It doesn't have to be complicated.
Thank you so much for this re-sensitizing (and restorative) plea to our humanity. Thank you for making me feel worthy AND capable of a higher standard, while also gently reminding me that I’m also responsible for it. On a practical note: I buy eggs from my local farmers market. But how can I know that I’m getting the healthiest eggs from the healthiest chickens?
Thanks for the kind words, Malika. The best way is to get to know the farmer and ask to visit the farm sometime. Farmers are busy, but we’re also proud of our farms and like to show off. I think any decent farmer that treats his “girls” well would be happy to show you how they’re cared for, what they’re fed, etc.
First, you can tell by how the eggs taste. Second, you can ask the farmer about how their chickens live. The good ones will tell you what they chickens eat, where they hang out. My second-favourite egg farmer calls her chickens "my girls.".
I’m a huge chicken fan (raise them myself, name them love them, eat them, hang out with them, all the joys of chicken keeping). Conversations like this need to be mainstream! Chickens are actually really energetic and smart animals that have social lives, wants and needs. Battery cages are actually torture and I can’t believe they’ve become so commonplace and normalized!!!! Again, not a PETA activist or anything, I’m with you on stew hens here. Just the absolute disregard for sentient life is so astounding??? You can get MILLIONS of eggs without resorting to …. THAT???
I found myself wanting to see an after photo of your rescue birds. You captured both the hopelessness and the hopeful emotions of this huge problem we all live with.
Let the chickens be chickens!
As Joel Salatin says, “Let them express their chickeness!”
Well written Brett, and proud you’re one of the good guys.
Love, mom
The restoration of health, given half a chance with Nature as their new world, is remarkable, isn't it? Thanks for the straight talk and contrasting pics. It doesn't have to be complicated.
You have a gift of stating important matters very clearly and eloquently.
Thanks for the kind words, Jay!
Great article Brett! It really makes you think about where our food actually comes from! Poor chickens……..
You’re right that we’re taught not to notice, nor care. Our food supply is our biggest blind spot! Thanks for showing us what it looks like.
Thank you so much for this re-sensitizing (and restorative) plea to our humanity. Thank you for making me feel worthy AND capable of a higher standard, while also gently reminding me that I’m also responsible for it. On a practical note: I buy eggs from my local farmers market. But how can I know that I’m getting the healthiest eggs from the healthiest chickens?
Thanks for the kind words, Malika. The best way is to get to know the farmer and ask to visit the farm sometime. Farmers are busy, but we’re also proud of our farms and like to show off. I think any decent farmer that treats his “girls” well would be happy to show you how they’re cared for, what they’re fed, etc.
First, you can tell by how the eggs taste. Second, you can ask the farmer about how their chickens live. The good ones will tell you what they chickens eat, where they hang out. My second-favourite egg farmer calls her chickens "my girls.".
Thank you for this advice! You’re right. Farmers who care will want to talk about their girls!
I’m a huge chicken fan (raise them myself, name them love them, eat them, hang out with them, all the joys of chicken keeping). Conversations like this need to be mainstream! Chickens are actually really energetic and smart animals that have social lives, wants and needs. Battery cages are actually torture and I can’t believe they’ve become so commonplace and normalized!!!! Again, not a PETA activist or anything, I’m with you on stew hens here. Just the absolute disregard for sentient life is so astounding??? You can get MILLIONS of eggs without resorting to …. THAT???
These poor chickens they didn’t deserve that kind of treatment, some people disgust me especially this country.