Will do. It would be a good idea if egg suppliers were made to put
statements like "These eggs are from battery hens" on their egg boxes
instead of "Farm Fresh" and "Natural" and meaningless tosh like that.

Joan in Bramhall (Cheshire)


I agree.

I would also like terms such as "freerange" to be defined in the way that
the average person perceives it. Currently the definition is:

Free range eggs:

Ø hens must have continuous daytime access to open air runs

Ø the ground to which hens have access is mainly covered with
vegetation

Ø the maximum stocking density is not greater than 1,000 hens/hectare
of ground available to the hens, or one hen/10 sq.m

Ø the interior of the building must satisfy the conditions specified
for deep litter or perchery eggs

The main problem I have with the above relates to the ground available to
each hen. Since chickens eat insects, small mammals (I have witnessed more
than one chicken eat the odd mole), etc., 10 sq.m. is just not enough area
for each chicken. For most people, the term freerange means that the chicken
has ample area to support itself in food.

Regards

Howard Neil