Comments on: Egg Farm Tour

By: Michaela

Michaela — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:03:49 +0000

Loved reading about the trip, Ann! Sounds like it was a really good experience! I want you to teach me the egg flip – you looked so serious in the pictures!! Thanks for sharing!!

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:12:33 +0000

Denise,
The cleanliness and the family – and how much the family cares for the community was extremely impressive and I wanted to focus on the positive. The number of birds was overwhelming for sure though. When I actually saw the beaks trimmed, I saw that they weren’t chopped off or anything and was happy that without the total tips of the beaks, that the weaker hens weren’t being murdered by the stronger. I think the best place to start here is petitioning the animal welfare program to give the hens more space. They were trying to be conventional and ethical as well. What I’ve also seen is some scary stuff with some of the organic hens, so I don’t really think there is a perfect option unless you have your own chickens, which I don’t have the land for! Or, if you just know of a local small operation- which is my personal ideal… However, I just wouldn’t want to put down this amazing family who is doing their best to feed the community at an affordable price for those that can’t afford higher prices – but I do hope that we have babysteps for positive change for sure. I won’t stop eating eggs, I love them!

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:56:34 +0000

I love your blog and how you really focus on natural eating. I was really surprised you were impressed by this experience, it seems anything but natural… thinking of the “beak trimming,” small confined space they are forced to live in, and that picture… oh my goodness that awful picture of the sterile confined birds! I am vegetarian to take a stand against factory farming and this is an egg factory if there ever was one! Makes me seriously consider going back to veganism.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:46:51 +0000

Lesley, I didn’t say it was a good thing- I said that is the standard they comply by with the United Egg Producers animal welfare protection program. Just stating the facts.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:41:48 +0000

I was surprised that you wrote that the birds are given 67 square inches as if it’s a good thing. That’s less space per bird than a sheet of paper — and they have to live in such cramped quarters for more than a year before being slaughtered. They can’t even spread their wings without touching other birds.

This standard for battery cage egg production is illegal throughout the European Union, and California and Michigan have both passed laws to phase it out, too. It’s simply cruel and inhumane to confine animals in such tiny cages that they care barely move their whole lives.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:38:33 +0000

Marla, thanks – I’m blushing:) It was wonderful meeting you too and I love reading your blog!

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:30:38 +0000

I know, kinda gross since you don’t know where their hands have been! I’m a peeker, not a toucher!

By: marla {family fresh cooking}

marla {family fresh cooking} — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:10:57 +0000

Ann I love your re-cap!! Gosh girl, you are a great reporter. I felt like I was back on our trip. Great details. I am so thrilled that we had the opportunity to meet in person. Hope to see you again soon xo

By: Heather @ Side of Sneakers

Heather @ Side of Sneakers — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:09:32 +0000

I never thought about all the people touching the eggs at the store!!! Sounds like an interesting tour, thanks for sharing!!

By: Belinda @zomppa

Belinda @zomppa — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:45:24 +0000

Ann: thank you so much this insightful post! I learned a lot too…I too love my eggs runny…it seems unless you buy them straight from the farmer or at the farmer’s market, it’s hard to really know…..