Egg label debate continues

A report in today's Weekly times reveals a Victorian Farmers Federation official who criticised animal-welfare groups over "getting facts right" sold eggs using misleading information.

VFF egg group president Brian Ahmed sold his "Down the Farm" eggs carrying the picture and story of a third-generation Italian immigrant "Guiseppe" - complete with pictures - last year.

Read more here.

Another reason to have some chooks in your yard / community garden.

Cage egg ending?

THE animal welfare lobby has vowed to eradicate the caged egg industry by Christmas. 

In an article in the Weekly Times, it said radio advertisements, an internet video and a social media campaign were launched yesterday by Animals Australia, featuring singer Missy Higgins, The Australian reports.

Appealing to Australians to "Have a heart for hens" and "Help make the battery cage history", Higgins says she was amazed there were 12 million caged birds across the country.

 

Check out more info here.

Chicken or the egg?

Ledger checking out the bug situation.

Now the new hens have settled in, I’m keenly waiting them to get to that point-of-lay time when they do start to put out the cackleberries.

Hilda, Laura, Gidget III and Philly III are sleeping in the hutch, rather than the perched on the ladder in the run and there's less squawking going on, so it seems they are all calming down.

Of course, Autumn means some will start to moult and perhaps go off the lay – but I’m hoping not the new girls.

If Layne and Ledger could get back in the saddle and start producing some eggs again - even one every couple of days - I’d be so stoked as I need them make my weekend blueberry pancakes!

Meanwhile, when I locked the gals in the hutch tonight I noticed Layne is looking decidedly peaky and Ledger is cuddled up with her in the straw, rather than on the perch she prefers.

So tomorrow I'm make them up some porridge as a treat - Layne does like her oats.

Free Range Debate

In the Weekly Times today there is an interesting debate article discussing how egg producers have let fly with their criticism of Coles' decision to phase out house-brand cage eggs by 2013. They spoke out at this year's Australian Egg Corporation Limited annual general meeting, held in Adelaide last week. Read more

Alison's chooks enjoying the good life.

Also check out the Free Range Farmers website.

Another reason for those of you with a garden (no matter how small) is to consider getting a couple of chooks. Not only are they easy and cheap to maintain and buy - if you get a couple from a cage-egg farm where they sell off the girls after their first year of intense production they sometimes cost a mere $2. You’ll be giving them a whole new life and they will still repay you with beautiful, fresh eggs.