Elbow Room for Hens

 Chickens could use a little elbow room according to some organizations. I don’t have any idea how you interview chickens or measure their disposition and distress levels but researchers are trying to determine whether small cages, typically 24 inches wide by 25 1/2 inches deep, that are shared by up to nine hens drive them nuts. About 96 percent of eggs sold in the United States come from hens who live in the so-called battery cages from the day they're born until their egg-laying days end 18 to 24 months later. Clemson University researcher Peter Skewes is leading one of the studies comparing how different housing affects egg-laying hens. He claims that there are plenty of "emotional" opinions about whether the cages are inhumane, but few are based on facts. The majority of the public opinion opposes the cages. I asked Jack Merrill, President of the Idaho Poultry Farmers Association: “I’ve seen ‘em in it and I know by the UEP standards they’re giving them a lot more space than they used to be, at one point we were down to 42 square inches per bird or less, and now I believe the standard is 70 sq. inches per bird so no I don’t think that’s cruel or unusual but that’s just my opinion.” So this one’s animal welfare groups vs. growers. And the hits just keep on happenin’.