Need help making a decision about keeping chickens

[Sienna-forever]

Hope this is in the right place, wasn't too sure where best to post.

Basically, I have recently become vegetarian and much more 'aware' of animal rights. The more I'm learning, the more I want to make positive changes. We have quite a large garden, have recently started growing our own veg and we also have a new greenhouse. I've become a SAHM so have much, much more time to spend gardening.

So, we've been thinking about keeping a few chickens. The garden is large enough for them, and we've seen some lovely coops that would be suitable.

Heres our dilemma: Do we get 'ex-battery hens' from a rescue organisation which will save them from slaughter or do we go to a local farm and get some 'free-range' chickens? At first, I thought the decision was an easy one, we'd get the ex-battery hens.

Until I realised that these organisations actually PAY the farmer for the hens. Which makes me think, he is making a profit from keeping hens in appalling conditions, and is not going to have any incentive to break the cycle is he?

What would you do?

[2xand2y]

I think you are doing more by not supporting the industry. It's important to look at all the ways our choices will support behaviors we do not like. You've already chosen not to support them by buying the chicken meat that comes from their farms. If you get chickens you will no longer need to buy eggs which supports the industry. If you are sure that the organizations pay for chickens then I wouldn't support the farmers in that way either.

[Sienna-forever]

Yeah the re-homing centre definitely said that they pay the farmers Its sad because if the farmers were not getting paid for them, I'd happily re-home some, knowing that those hens will be getting a chance of having a loving home.

But the fact that the farmer will be getting paid makes it seem that all we'd be doing is freeing up some cages for a new batch of young hens to fill, to be kept in exactly the same poor conditions, its a viscious circle. I think I thought that the organisations were 'given' the hens when they were of no use to the farmers anymore, and in that instance I'd have re-homed some without a doubt, knowing we'd give them a happy retirement.

It makes you feel pretty helpless doesn't it?

[2xand2y]

Don't feel helpless. By not eating chicken and by raising chickens to supply eggs you keep all of your money out of the farmer's pocket!

[Sienna-forever]

Thank you

Its my birthday today and we're going to go and have a look at some hens

[2xand2y]

Happy Birthday! I hope you have an awesome day and feel loved and appreciated.

[tinuviel_k]

Another few reasons not to get factory hens:

1. Their prime laying years are behind them. A hen lays the most eggs in her first 2-3 years of life, then she starts slowing down. Factories give hens the boot as they begin to slow down because it is not profitable to keep them. The hens will continue to lay for quite a few years beyond that, but egg production does fall off a lot. If you get an older factory hen she will already be slowing down in production, which isn't a great thing if you want lots of eggs for several years. You really want to start with chicks or young hens under one year old. (They start laying around 6 months old.)

2. The factory chickens are all one breed: the white leghorn. they are bred for their ability to pump out large quantities of white, uniform-sized eggs and their tolerance for severe confinement. They are NOT bred for their friendliness to humans and tend to be really flighty and nervous. Not the best choice in a "family" chicken.

[JulieNicole23]

Don't have much insight on your original question, but wanted to say good luck, and keep us posted how it goes!! I want to raise chickens one day myself, but don't think the neighbors would appreciate it where we are living right now lol

[WaitingForKiddos]

I agree with a pp, you may be very disapointed in the eggs, personality, and health f ex-battery hens. Majory hatcheries are typically a crappy place for adult birds.

Why not contact your local 4h, get some fertile eggs and raise your own? Chicks are loads of fun and only difficult the first 6 weeks.

[spatulagirl]

I have the same beliefs and got chicken and chicks from people who couldn't keep them but wanted them to go to a good home where they wouldn't get eaten. I found mine on Craigslist and some homeschooling lists.

[Weevil]

Check local shelters, petfinder, etc.

Are you wanting to get chickens for their eggs or just because you would like to have some chickens? Keep in mind that rescued hens are probably in need of rescue since they're past their egg laying prime (not that this is necessarily a bad thing, just an FYI in case you were looking for a steady egg supply).

The problem with getting chicks, etc from local farmers is this: ~50% of chicks hatched will be male, the other 50% female. Obviously, only the females will lay eggs. Most of the time, the male chicks are killed. From an AR perspective, this is problematic.

(Actually, from an AR perspective it's generally frowned upon to view chickens as egg making machines, on the other hand AW - animal welfare - issues would be more in line with keeping chickens for their eggs).

Some people advocate giving the eggs back to the chickens, since modern chickens have been bred to lay way more eggs than is 'natural' and this can be a burden on their system (of course I've never had chickens personally. but this is what I hear).

I hope you can get some chickens in a way that meets your ethical standards. Thanks for caring about the chickens, and good luck!