Sun, 12 Aug 2007

Suddenly, the Hunt Is on for Cage-Free Eggs

With recent changes in health regulation here locally, free range eggs will stay in short supply, too. I've not mentioned it here before, but I've reduced the flock from ~500 to less than 50, and am selling only off the porch now. This was in response to Marion County health inspectors demands that I grade and sort my eggs, something my customers didn't want me to do and that would cost me greatly in additional labor,time and storage facilities.

Additionally, as the article points out, "cage free" is certainly not the same as "free range". My chickens roam the barn lot (and the yard) and always have. They roost at night in the henhouse, and I do lock the door after they're in, but that's the only time they're confined at all, and that's just to keep the coyotes from feasting on them. Note the picture (from an Indiana facility) accompanying the piece: there are thousands of debeaked chickens crammed into a barn - and this is supposed to be more humane than battery cages. Right. Sure. If you believe that, I've got a bridge for sale in Brooklyn that I'll let go real cheap.

I'll been remiss in keeping my readers appraised of changes on the farm, but suffice it to say for now that many things are being reordered, and that our primary production will be fiber (wool) rather than food, simply due to the regulation, taxes and licenses required to commercially sell the latter.

A rush on the eggs has led to headaches as big buyers learn there may not be enough to go around.

(link) [New York Times]

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