Posted October 8, 2010 by Rachelle Owen
It’s easy to think that “organic” and “free range” mean that animals get a good life. Once upon a time, I believed it—and I’m sure some of you do too. Sadly, it’s just untrue. These terms, along with “cage-free” and others are meant to trick compassionate consumers into buying into an industry that exploits animals.
Don’t believe me?
Check out these gut-wrenching photos from the Organic Valley Farm in Wisconsin: They show birds in stinking, stifling, windowless warehouses, crammed so tightly together that they’re barely able to move—much less spread their wings, scratch in the dirt, or interact normally in any way.
Like many other facilities that raise young birds, this house in Southwest Wisconsin confines the animals, granting no outdoor access whatsoever, and provides virtually no natural light in the building. Photo by The Cornucopia Institute.
36,000 birds in an aviary system in Wisconsin, supplying Chino Valley Ranchers. The hens also have access to an outdoor run. Photo by The Cornucopia Institute.
“Organic” doesn’t mean that birds are allowed to be free. Cage-free does not mean free range, of course, and so the chickens can still be crammed into sheds and forced to suffer through having a part of their beak cut off, just like birds on factory farms. But “organic” does mean that the chickens aren’t fed antibiotics—leaving them all the more susceptible to illness in the filthy, poorly ventilated, crowded conditions.
The outside view of a 60,000 bird “organic” henhouse in Pennsylvania. The other side of the building has a small grassy porch as “outdoor access.” Photo by The Cornucopia Institute.
A two-story henhouse with tens of thousands of organic hens inside. The small, enclosed porch on the first floor provides “outdoor access” for the chickens on the second floor as well—it is accessible via a ramp that leads chickens down, single-file. Photo by The Cornucopia Institute.
Love animals? Don’t support this or any other industry that abuses them for profit. Go vegan!
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Stay loud!
516 days ago
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Hello everyone. I have a small request… please stay polite when responding to my questions, for I am looking for educated answers to help steer me in the right direction and help shed my opinions of any ignorance that might hinder the best decision making. In regards to the article above, this much I already knew, and view such egg sourcing as deplorable. However, there are other alternatives. For-instance, I purchase my eggs from a local farm where the chickens do indeed roam a vast field, are fed natural feed, I.e. insects, and their environment is kept clean and not overpopulated. With all this to reflect on would any of you still consider this an unethical decision of mine to purchase and consume eggs from a source such as this as well? I really would appreciate some feed back because I keep animal rights in the highest regard and want to live the most ethically sound life as possible.
-thank you
955 days ago
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this is outrageous! no more eggs for me!!!
955 days ago
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Check out this short 10 minute documentary about the ethics of eating organic free range meat:
FREE RANGE:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMF5ZW2QvYg
955 days ago
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eggs aren’t embryos, they’re not fertilised.
955 days ago
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this is why when I buy eggs, they’re not just free range, they from chickens who roam in a more natural habitat with trees and massive fields etc
955 days ago
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Name says it all.
955 days ago
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If people eat eggs at all, they really should buy locally so they can actually make sure and see that the chickens are free range and well treated, and that they are producing non-fertilized eggs.
955 days ago
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Eggs are embryos, gross.
956 days ago
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wow this is unbelieveable, so sad I wish that we could really have a voice to washington and make people quit eating meat and killing animals. One day someone will come along and free the animals just like slaves were freed. why are people looking the other way for just the good taste of the meat and making jokes about eating it and people being at the top of the food chain you know what would be really funny if we are not the top of the food chain and there is something raising us to eat our souls. jokes on us huh????? something to think about for sure.
957 days ago
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The only organic I eat is vegetables!