A bit of common sense; https://www.theguardian.com/food/shortcuts/2019/aug/15/pullet-eggs-waste-shop-farmer-supermarkets-chefs
Pullet eggs
- Thread starter Marigold
- Start date
Hen-Gen
Well-known member
Totally agree, Marigold.
But what’s this technological advance that allows eggs to be sexed?
But what’s this technological advance that allows eggs to be sexed?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/22/worlds-first-no-kill-eggs-go-on-sale-in-berlin
I think this was posted some time ago. Sounds a really good idea for all concerned!
I think this was posted some time ago. Sounds a really good idea for all concerned!
Hen-Gen
Well-known member
Thanks for that. I guess it’s that old abortion debate but in chickens ie when does life begin.
The different methods of killing male chicks is interesting. Leaving aside human squeamishness I would consider being fed live into a shredding machine as more humane than being gassed.
The different methods of killing male chicks is interesting. Leaving aside human squeamishness I would consider being fed live into a shredding machine as more humane than being gassed.
Shadrach
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Such a shame the whole business in my opinion.
Statistically the hatch ratio of males to females is 50/50.
The jungle fowl, all four varieties I believe, live in small family groups, much like humans and many other creatures. A common arrangement is one senior rooster, his hen and possibly their offspring one generation down.
Unfortunately, because of human exploitation and the demand for eggs it has now become common for people to keep one rooster for up to ten or more hens. This is a completely unnatural arrangement and those excess roosters that nature has carefully arranged to suit the chickens natural living arrangements are no longer required.
What would help enormously is if we could persuade chicken keepers that an arrangement that works better for the chickens and still provides us with eggs is one rooster for three hens. This could save a lot of male lives.
I keep up to five free range Tribes here with this arrangement and this allows me to have up to ten roosters/cockerels at any one time.
I get more eggs than I can healthily eat (I would probably get enough eggs with two hens for most of the year) and the chickens live lives closer to their ancestors.
Statistically the hatch ratio of males to females is 50/50.
The jungle fowl, all four varieties I believe, live in small family groups, much like humans and many other creatures. A common arrangement is one senior rooster, his hen and possibly their offspring one generation down.
Unfortunately, because of human exploitation and the demand for eggs it has now become common for people to keep one rooster for up to ten or more hens. This is a completely unnatural arrangement and those excess roosters that nature has carefully arranged to suit the chickens natural living arrangements are no longer required.
What would help enormously is if we could persuade chicken keepers that an arrangement that works better for the chickens and still provides us with eggs is one rooster for three hens. This could save a lot of male lives.
I keep up to five free range Tribes here with this arrangement and this allows me to have up to ten roosters/cockerels at any one time.
I get more eggs than I can healthily eat (I would probably get enough eggs with two hens for most of the year) and the chickens live lives closer to their ancestors.
Ideal, I agree, in your setup, Shadrach, but 'Up to 10 roosters' (or even one) wouldn't be welcome in the average suburban back garden!
Hen-Gen
Well-known member
Interesting Shadrach. I might try that next year ie one cockerel to three hens using brothers.
