The industry has also managed to deceive consumers by claiming there are no hormones involved. They fail to warn the public of the antibiotics, pesticides, and other chemicals consistently used by the farmers in order to produce marketable eggs.
Egg yolks alone are chemically dyed to achieve a "natural" yellow look since the hens are deprived of sunlight.
Further evidence that hens should not be caged together, is the barbaric method of "debeaking". Laying hens are literally debeaked in order to reduce cannibalism in overstocked cages. The hen's upper beak is sliced off a pre-heated steel blade. Many hens die of shock from this. Those who manage to survive are left to live out a slow and painful existence within the cages.
Where Do the Males Go?
Much like the procedures most farming industries use with males animals, the males chicks have little or no value to the farmer. They are discarded within plastic bags, where they suffocate.
Some farms, however, have a different method of ridding of the male offspring. They throw them dead or alive into feed grinders. Later, the feed to given to sustain the livestock. [4]
Who is Really Ruling the Roost?
Unfortunately, there are no known federal or state laws that prohibit any of these industry practices. Current "suggestions" by the federal Animal Welfare Act ask that the industry remove one hen from the cage to allow the others to move more freely.
Most farmers do not believe this is worthwhile. They feel it would not be in their best interest to create more room for the hens. Since there are no laws to enforce a change, the farms continue to do as the please.
All animals used for food production are excluded from the federal Animal Welfare Act and most state humane laws fail to monitor any poultry or livestock. The only federal law relating to transportation, allows animals to be transported for up to 36 hours without sufficient food and water. The law currently does not recognise the overcrowding issues.
While human slavery in the United States was abolished years ago, animal cruelty and slavery continues. Caged, chained, sold at auctions, forced to perform for crowds, beaten, abused and slaughtered. The realities of animal abuses, when it comes to farm animals, is mostly ignored by society. The fact remains, for most, that a pet in one's home holds more value and is treated more often than not with respect than one thought of as "food".
"We can each take a powerful stand against animal abuse by becoming vegan. Egg-laying hens are abused because there is a market for their eggs." Shapiro further points out, "As soon as we stop buying eggs, the cruelty will stop. As such, COK's main outreach efforts are not toward the heads of egg companies, but rather toward the public awareness".
Thinking about free-range chickens or eggs? Think again. In March 1998, Consumer Reports publicly disclosed a report stating that free-range poultry and their eggs are more of a danger as they actually have more salmonella and campylobacter than ordinary poultry. The word "free-range" quickly loses its meaning.
* Paul Shapiro holds a bachelors degree in peace studies from George Washington University and once taught peace studies at a public D.C. high school. He has been COK's campaign director since 1995. Mr. Shapiro currently resides in Takoma Park, Md.
[1] Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)
[2] Journal of Applied Poultry Research, Vol. 2, 1993, p. 107
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