Campaign- Production Method Labelling

With the new introduced 'EU laying hens directive' to help hen welfare in egg production by promoting use of 'enriched cages', food manufacturers have started to look elsewhere. This means that business are now looking to other countries or non-compliant production systems in the EU where costs are cheaper and not necessarily where the hens health is kept in mind, and that means battery farming. 

If you have forgotten what battery farming is ....

• Battery hens often have less 0.6 square feet space in their cages which is smaller then a regular A4 piece of paper.
•  Their beaks are often removed to prevent them from pecking each other in high stressed and often starving conditions as the manufacturers save money.
• their cages are indoors, they are packed closely together in artificial light. Their claws often grow painfully long because they aren't allowed outdoors.
• Manufacturers also save money by forcing the hens to molt (lose their feathers) to promote recovery of the reproductive tract so that the quality of eggs are improved. Although this is not allowed in the UK this is still practiced in other countries. The hens are starved for 2 weeks and given little maybe no water in order to shock their bodies. It is common for up to 10% of hens to die in this cruel process.
• Hens are killed after 2 years when their egg production begins to drop, the Battery Hen Welfare Trust is a charity that hopes to re-home some of these hens.

Therefore, to try and battle this problem the BHWT along with me is campaigning for "manufactures to add country of origin and production method labelling information to ingredients list by name i.e. Ingredients: barn egg (UK), free-range egg (UK), colony egg (UK), conventional caged egg (non-EU)." 

This information will help inform us consumers where our food has come from and hopefully reinforce to manufacturers how much we believe in hens having a comfortable, free range lifestyle.

To do this we require your help. Please contact your local parliamentary representative with this (sample letter provided by BHWT) or your own letter in support of the campaign:

Dear (PLEASE ADD NAME)

I am writing to seek your support for a British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) campaign seeking the implementation of a production method labelling scheme for foods with egg as an ingredient across the EU.

The BHWT supports egg farmers farming to high welfare standards, and wishes to see farming remain strong in the EU where there is a desire to continue to improve welfare standards for laying hens.

The BHWT is concerned about a competitive threat to the EU egg industry (following the implementation of the EU laying hen’s directive) from (a) food products manufactured from eggs produced in non-compliant systems in the EU and (b) food products manufactured from eggs produced in conventional cage systems outside of the EU. The liquid egg and egg products sectors are most at risk of importing and using product, and the most difficult to monitor.

These issues have been highlighted as major areas of concern by the British Egg Industry Council, British Free Range Egg Producers Association, British Egg Products Association, NFU Cymru and a UK parliamentary committee investigating the implications of the welfare of egg laying hen’s directive for the egg industry.  British Egg Industry Council figures suggest it will be cheaper to produce egg powder in countries such as the US and India and export to Europe than to produce within the EU.

To counteract this problem, the BHWT is seeking your support for the implementation of a production method labelling scheme for foods with egg as an ingredient.  Such a scheme will empower consumers with necessary information to support compliant egg farmers from EU member states.

The BHWT proposes such a scheme would require manufactures to add country of origin and production method labelling information to ingredients list by name i.e. Ingredients: barn egg (UK), free-range egg (UK), colony egg (UK), conventional caged egg (non-EU).

If products contain egg from conventional cage systems from outside of the EU this will be marked on the ingredient list. This labelling will minimise the impact of egg product produced in either non-compliant systems within the EU or conventional caged systems outside of the EU, entering the EU and undermining compliant egg farmers, helping to alleviate the problem which has been identified as a threat to the egg industry.

I am seeking your support for the adoption of such labelling and would like to include your name on the BHWT website as a supporter for this campaign.

Yours sincerely

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS (INCL POSTCODE)

For more information please visit:

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/latest-campaign-production-method-labelling/

BREED OF THE DAY- MARSH DAISY

The Marsh Daisy is a rare breed due to interbreeding and World War II and is listed as endangered by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. They are large fowl of gentle and calm nature which arose from a complicated series of cross-breeding which started with an Old English Game bantam cockerel and some Malay hens in Lancashire, 1880's. 

(Marsh Daisy- Female)

Marsh Daisies are of very traditional appearance and is found in Wheaten and Brown varieties (gorgeous combinations of gold, black and brown colouring). They have rose combs with red eyes, face and wattles. They have hackle feathers at the neck which rest at the shoulders. In addition, they often have white ear lobes and beautiful featherless willow-green legs. Marsh Daisies are calm but active and are good flyers when bothered- so wing clipping is often recommended.

The eggs are medium sized and have a tinted white shell. The Marsh Daisy is a good forager and enjoys space therefore free range is highly recommended (they do not mind wet weather). However, these birds are not economical as the hens are slow to mature and produce eggs despite their good laying capabilities. Because of their rarity, it is important when considering this breed to find a well-established breeder that believes in their conservation.

 Summary: 

•   Eggs: up to 200 a year!
• Colourings: Wheaten and Brown (there’s is Buff, Black and White but these varieties are believed to be close to extinction)
•   Character: Calm but flighty
•  Weight: Female + Male around  2.5 kg

* *IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS BREED YOU WOULD LIKE TO ME TO ADD TO THIS POST PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT BELOW*

BREED OF THE DAY- BARNEVELDER

The Barnevelder is a hardy breed that lays beautiful dark brown eggs. It is a relatively new breed as it name originates from a town in the Netherlands and was imported into Britain in the 1920’s. Barnevelders are thought to be a result of crossing local fowl with the Brahma, Langshan and Malay. They were originally bred for their winter laying capabilities and their large eggs. Unfortunately, over time the selective breeding for the desired dark brown egg shell has meant their productivity has decreased over the years. Even so as the hens become older their egg shell colour tends to become of a lighter brown, nevertheless 170 eggs can still be expected each year from a healthy hen in her prime. 

There are bantam versions available but the popularity of this stunning black laced bird began to fall with the increase in desire for sturdy hybrid layers. Barnevelders however, are still robust, good foragers and calm. They are quick to grow and their sexes can be identified at an early stage with day old male chicks having a white breast. Although, as the males become older they do not express the double lacing pattern but instead are black breasted reds.

(A female Barnevelder pullet)

The Barnevelder is a type of large fowl and has a plump soft feathered body. A female should be around 3kg and a male around 3.4 kg. It has a single bright red comb on an un-feathered face with orange eyes. There are other less recognised variations of the typical black and brown double laced feathers with a greenish sheen such as a blue-grey variance on the black colouring.

The bird was bred to be robust and docile and is suitable for beginner chicken owners. Because of their good nature it is important to take extra care when being placed in a mixed flock as younger chicks are prone to bullying. 

Summary:

• Eggs: Dark brown – 170 a year
• Colourings: Black double laced, with blue and white variants
• Character: Docile and robust
• Weight: large, female typically at 3kg

* IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS BREED YOU WOULD LIKE TO ME TO ADD TO THIS POST PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT BELOW*