Re: Free range eggs

On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 14:51:58 -0000, the Omrud posted:

In article <5uhgajF1hqml9U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
laura@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx had it:

I have just been tidying the fridge (displacement activity: there are
more important things that I should really be doing but don't want to)
and noticed that there is more to free range eggs than I had hitherto
suspected.

Tidying the fridge is housework. Transcribing the contents to AUE is
displacement activity.

Eggs from ASDA come in a box marked: "laid by hens that are *free to
roam* on *British farms* in the *fresh air* from dawn to dusk". (The
asterisks indicate words printed in a much larger font.)

Eggs from Sainsbury's are "Woodland" eggs: "free range eggs from hens
free to roam in the natural shelter of trees". Inside the box we are told:

"Like their wild ancestors, hens still prefer the shelter of trees.
These eggs come from hens with access to established woodland or where
trees have been planted to enrich the range and provide natural cover.
This encourages them to range more and live fuller and more active lives
exploring and foraging beneath the trees. A more natural free ranging
life means healthy hens and high quality eggs."

I think the Morrisons Egg Team must have a budget similar to their
counterpoints in Asda. The box simply states: "laid by hens with
freedom to perch, preen, nest, forage and roam outdoors during
daylight hours".

Sainsbury's marketing budgets are clearly superior. Although I'm
pleased that our egg-laying technicians are free to preen.

I do wonder how the preference of hens for ranging under trees is known.
And why does it matter whether the trees are established or newly
planted?

Undergrowth? Never mind what they are supposed to be fed on, free
range hens gobble up all manner of invertebrates.

Chickens will eat just about anything they can catch and kill, in
addition to vegetable matter. Small voles, shrews and mice, when
caught, will provide a good meal for a hen. It's all good stuff. They
are supposed to eat whatever they eat. Nature is sort of like that.

--
WCdnE
.

Relevant Pages

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