Target: USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
Goal: Ban the practice of keeping hens in cages too small to spread their wings or engage in natural behaviors.
Billions of eggs are eaten every year in the United States alone. While this is not bad in and of itself, most hens in the US are confined to small, wire-framed battery cages. On average, each laying hen is given only 67 square inches of cage space; less space than a single sheet of letter-sized paper to live her entire life. Unable to spread their wings, caged laying hens are the most intensively confined animals in the entire agricultural business. They suffer from the lack of many natural behaviors such as nesting, perching, and dustbathing, all acts important for the animals’ welfare.
As one scientist, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Konrad Lorenz said, “The worst torture to which a battery hen is exposed is the inability to retire somewhere for the laying act. For the person who knows something about animals, it is truly heart-rending to watch how a chicken tries, again and again, to crawl beneath her fellow cage mates to search there in vain for cover.”
These animals suffer from brittle bones and bone fractures, as well as foot problems and feather loss due to restrictive environments and wire floors. Hens in battery cages also have been found to have high rates of a condition that causes liver rupture and death, due mainly to stress and lack of exercise.
While moving to cage-free hens does not equate to cruelty-free, cage-free hens are able to walk, spread their wings, and lay their eggs in nests, vital and natural behavior. While they are still killed young and male chickens are killed at birth, enforcing cage-free farms will drastically improve the lives and welfare of laying hens.
Sign below and demand that hens are given this very basic right to comfort and health.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
As states continue to outlaw the use of battery cages for egg-laying hens, it is important that the US takes a federal stance against the horrific conditions caused by the practice. Most hens in America are given less than 67 square inches of cage space in which to live their entire lives, unable to even spread their wings. These animals are unable to engage in natural practices like nesting, perching, or dustbathing; they also suffer from brittle bones, fractures, foot problems, and feather loss from the tight spaces and wire floors that they are forced to walk on.
It is time to move to cage-free eggs on a federal level. While this does not equate to cruelty-free as there are several other practices that harm hens, it will improve the lives and welfare of the animals by leaps and bounds.
Please, save the millions of chickens suffering in battery cages.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo By: Compassion Over Killing
I can honestly sign this knowing I don’t buy grocery store eggs. Regardless of the BS “ cage free” on the cartons. I am fortunate to raise my own chickens and feed organic and leftovers for treats. My eggs are healthy. Stop the madness. This is a barbaric practice. That goes for broilers (meat) chickens too. If you can’t raise your own birds, shop at farmers markets and buy from those that can for you. Only actions speak louder than words.
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I agree with Tracy. Most of America isn’t fortunate enough to raise their own hens. The life of a chicken, what little there is of it, must be pure hell. People eat too much meat. Various countries have specific days for meat consumption. Also companies need to have a bit of compassion but as always the bottom line is money. There needs to be, once again, oversight for these poor birds. They should at least be able to spread their wings, see some sunlight before they are killed to feed our many millions. As seemingly always, companies promise a better life for their chickens before death but they do nothing to improve the situation. It’s appalling.
Amen!!
All those that think it is OK to torture these and other animals need to spend the rest of their lives in a tiny cage…NO EXCEPTIONS…IN MY OPINION
THIS IS HORRIBLE-I JUST DON’T SEE HOW ANYONE CAN KEEP ANIMALS IN TINY CAGES, I’VE SEEN A NEIGHBOR KEEP TWO MEDIUM SIZE HUSKIES IN A TINY CAGE, HE DELIBERATELY WITHHELD FOOD FROM THEM SO THAT THEY COULD NOT GET TOO MUCH MORE BIGGER, I REPORTED HIM TO ANIMAL SERVICES BUT HE HAULED ASS WITH HIS DOGS BEFORE THEY GOT THERE.
God bless you for trying.
Like Tracy, I am also able to raise chickens for my own organic eggs. There was a time when I couldn’t, so I bought organic eggs produced by pasture-raised hens. Seeing as how I don’t eat my chickens (they are all like pets), I buy organic, free-range chicken. This way there are no antibiotics, or nasty things like pesticides in them. It’s time we change the way in which animals are raised. No more small cages and CAFOs! They are giving their lives for our sustenance. Let’s at least give them a decent life, though it is short.
Agree all comments these people not allowed to own animals and do the same to them. Stop this cruelty now whats wrong with fucken laws.
Stop animal cruelty.
Animal abuse must be stopped . People like myself care.
Many municipalities allow backyard hens now. Adopt a couple, and stick it to the selfish, savage egg industry.
ANIMALS ARE NOT PRODUCTS or COMMODITIES!
VEGAN LIFESTYLE IS the FUTURE!
It can give you MORALLY SUSTAINABLE PROFITS too! GO FOR VEGAN!!!!
This is HORRIFIC!!!!!! YOU PEOPLE ARE EVIL FOR TORTURE TO THESE HENS!!!!! STOP!!!!!
This is insane that as a “civilized” society we have to even have a petition like this. This is just common sense and compassion! Something that is sorely lacking due to greed, arrogance, ignorance, cruelty and sheer stupidity! These people are morally and ethically bankrupt. Thier karma I hope will be a thousand fold. As the great John Lennon once said, “I’d love to help humanity it’s just the humans I can’t stand!” STOP this inane cruelty now!
Ban all factory farming of sentient beings. The human race needs to evolve.
JUST HOW LOW CAN HUMANITY GO. DISGUSTING CRUELTY, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE GREEDY, VILE HUMANS. STOP IT NOW. YOU ARE EVIL, WICKED PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW IT. THANK HEAVENS FOR KARMA, IT WILL ARRIVE WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN IT OR NOT.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
Ban the practice of keeping hens in cages too small to spread their wings or engage in natural behaviors.
The unimaginable torture and suffering committed against precious and innocent Hens must be stopped and banned.
The rotten vile and evil human species are the vilest of all species on our planet. They are the monsters.
Human cruelty toward these poor creatures is off the scale. I really wish that all chicken outlets were closed down and that nobody would want to eat chicken or eggs.