7 January 2020

Urge Ridgeland, Wisconsin Officials to Stop Cruel Chicken Toss

Chicken being tossed from the roof of a building into a crowd of people.

From: Letter to Dunn County Officials, Ridgeland, Wisconsin

“The chickens being subjected to this extremely stressful and terrifying situation are not enjoying themselves. Such events teach children and others that it’s acceptable to use animals for any human purpose, regardless of how trivial and cruel. Our society needs to foster respect for the other creatures with whom we share this planet. The ‘chicken toss’ is antithetical to that aspiration. I urge you to use your influence to discontinue this use of animals that is unquestionably inhumane.”
– Nedim C. Buyukmihci, VMD, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Jan. 24, 2019.

United Poultry Concerns is joining Wisconsin-based Alliance for Animals and In Defense of Animals again this year in politely urging the village of Ridgeland in Dunn County, Wisconsin to cancel the “Chicken Toss” in February, most likely Saturday, Feb. 15, since it is always held on Saturday in mid-February.

The chicken toss consists of throwing many chickens, one or two at a time, up in the air from a roof. Crowds scramble to grab the birds as they fall to the ground. The chickens huddle together, freezing and fearful, in crates and bags, waiting to be thrown by participants who consider this cruel activity fun.

There is no similarity between a chicken being pulled from a container and thrown roughly up in the air from a roof in the midst of a screaming mob, and a chicken fluttering voluntarily to the ground from a perch in a quiet place.

Feb. 16, 2019 “Chicken Toss” Report

“Today, for the second year in a row, we drove up to the Ridgeland, WI Pioneer Days event. The big attraction is throwing sick, frostbitten, terrified chickens off of a roof into a sea of drunk, crazed and violent humans. The community bills this event as a family friendly traditional chicken ‘fly.’ As if all of these birds are willing participants for the amusement and delight of the children and their doting parents. Many activists came out this year from all over the Midwest and collectively we were able to rescue 29 of these abused but wonderful birds. Some are already on their way to good homes, or to the vet. We are working on finding homes for some of the others and many will stay here with us at Farm Bird Sanctuary.”
– Todd Wilson, Alliance for Animals

 

Ridgeland residents grabbing a chicken that was tossed into a crowd

Ridgeland residents grabbing a chicken that was tossed into a crowd

Ridgeland residents grabbing a chicken that was tossed into a crowd

Ridgeland residents grabbing a chicken that was tossed into a crowd

 

What Can I Do?

Please call these Dunn County officials, and politely urge them to prohibit the “chicken toss” this year. Whether you reach a live person or a recording, leave a brief, clear, and respectful message expressing your concern for the chickens: their fear and possible injury and the frigid weather.

 

See also: UPC letter to Dunn County, WI officials, Jan. 7, 2020

Thank you for taking action for these birds.
– United Poultry Concerns