Safe-Hen Cage Farming
Farm Fresh Cage-Safe Eggs
tend to eat their own and other hens (and other animals) feces when given the chance.
From the webcam!
This is a actual LIVE photograph taken from a webcam inside the henhouse that is updated every 5 minutes.
Caged layer production places the hens in wire pens with feed and water being provided to each cage. The birds are housed with several hens in each pen, with plenty of space for comfortable movement and constant access to fresh food and fresh water. The pens are arranged in rows where water is supplied by individual waterers.
The feed trough is also located outside the cages to insure the hens are fed a balanced diet with just the right combination of nutrients to keep them healthy and productive. Housed in cages, birds seldom require medicine and are never fed hormones or steroids. The cages are designed so the eggs will roll out of the cage to a holding area by means of a slanted wire floor. Special computer controlled ventilation produces a steady 10mph breeze for lots of fresh country air over the hens at all times, which fluffs the feathers and carries away body heat.
The Cage-Safe farming method keeps a close watch on all of the needs of the chickens such as light intensity and natural nutrition. The lighting within a chicken house is monitored to ensure that a calm and relaxed atmosphere is always provided. Natural feed intake is recorded on a daily basis so that we may ensure that the proper concentration of vitamins and nutrients are provided at all times to the hens and that the chickens are never for want of any nutrient.
The farm in this photo contains over 3,000,000 hens. This farm produces enough eggs to feed over ONE MILLION people a 2 egg breakfast....EVERY DAY.
Adjusted for inflation, the retail price of eggs in the U.S.A. is a FRACTION of what the cost was in the 1950's before modern production methods came into place.
1. Ample Nutrition: with large amounts of calcium and phosphorus for strong egg shells and plentiful supplies of protein and energy for robust hen health.
2. Fresh, clean drinking water.
3. Continuous fresh air.
4. Computer controlled temperature control to assure the hen is at a comfortable temperature at all times.
5. Proper day length....neither too long of a day, or too short of a day of activity such as eating, drinking, socializing with other hens.
6. Proper light intensity...neither too bright, nor too dark.
7. Vaccinations against diseases, (just like humans).
8. Chickens must have a feeling of security. They cannot feel threatened. Whether it be from a predator or from a storm the hens need to feel protected from these threats.
9. A daily schedule that sticks very closely to a routine. Small changes to a chickens daily regiment can have detrimental effects on them.
10. Safe handling by humans when interaction with the birds becomes necessary.
Constant monitoring of all incoming feed ingredients allows us to provide for our hens nutritionally and also to ensure the safety of the hens and our customers.
Animal Welfare
As
farms have grown, animal activists have complained that animal welfare is being
sacrificed when caged production is used. However, guidelines, established by
the scientific community, along with the United
Egg Producers (UEP), place top priority on the comfort, health, and safety
of the chickens. Standards are in place which monitor ammonia levels; beak trimming,
when necessary, to prevent pecking and cannibalism ; daily inspection of each
bird; handling and transportation of the birds; training of new production staff
on proper handling of chickens to avoid injury to animals; molting procedures
based on the most current, verified scientific studies; and maintaining constant
supply of fresh feed, water, and air ventilation throughout the chicken house.
To provide for the birds during any power failure, the housing must include alarms
and stand-by generators to supply emergency power for lighting, watering, ventilation,
feeding, and egg collection. Producers also undergo annual inspections by independent
auditors to ensure these guidelines are consistently being met.
Importantly, Cage systems provide
cleaner eggs and also help keep the eggs safe from bacteria that might be present in
the manure.
Even though the caged housing method may seem to some to limit a hen's freedom, this system is actually designed for the welfare of the birds as well as for production efficiency. In the hen house, the birds are more readily protected from the elements, from disease, and from both natural and unnatural predators. Housing hens also makes it possible to control their diet which results in better-fed hens and production of more uniform quality eggs.
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