Here’s something I wasn’t aware of – battery egg production is to be banned across Europe but ‘enriched’ cages, a step-up from battery will still be allowed. There was a thought provoking article in The Guardian recently that explored the new choices and the reality of free-range and chicken welfare in general.
It was penned by Hattie Ellis, author of Planet Chicken: The Shameful Story of the Bird on Your Plate (Amazon.co.uk £8.99). Her Guardian piece highlights the problem with beak removal
“free-range systems do not eliminate other welfare issues. In crowded conditions, chickens can be aggressive; feather-pecking and even cannibalism can be rife. To counter this, many free-range birds, as well as battery ones, have the end of their beaks removed. Although technology has improved since the days when a third or even a half of the beak was cut off, animal-welfare campaigners still feel it is wrong, though admittedly better than the hens pecking each other to death.”
Onthe positive side there is a rise in sales of the Clarence Court range of Cotswold Legbar and Burford Browns (my regular choice if the local farm has sold out) despite a price premium. Sales have doubled in the past year.
Sadly though there are 30 million laying chickens in the UK with 860 million raised for meat. Only 4% of those are free-range.
Dorset based brewer Hall and Woodhouse have just released details of a competition to win a break for 4 people in one of six ‘Innforanight’ locations across the South. One lucky winner and three of their friends and family will get to enjoy a week of free accommodation, breakfast and dinner.
The May issue of
DK publishing and the Fairtrade Foundation are running a


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