Victorian Battery Hen Rescue
From: Patty Mark
The Action Animal Rescue Team rescued 8 badly debeaked battery hens
suffering featherloss at an undisclosed Victorian battery egg factory
on Friday July 21, 2000. (property still under surveillance)
The rescue followed a tip-off of bad conditions and noxious
fumes at the egg-laying factory near Melbourne.
Relatively new work/cages on the large property belies the
comments made by Hugh McMaster (head of the Australian Egg Industry
Association) that the industry was anxious for the 'possible
phase-out of battery cages in Australia' to be determined so the egg
industry can forge ahead with future plans. (they are obviously
forging ahead full speed with no intention of getting rid of cages)
The new cages included the horrific electrified wire running
under all feed troughs to shock the hens should they try to retrieve
their eggs. The system was four tiers high, six birds per cage with
conveyor belts removing the manure outside the shed. The hens were
unable to stand at full height in the cages. (see first photo below)
The fumes were bad, but not as noxious as the previous week's
rescue in Tasmania. Many hens were filmed and photographed suffering
severe reddened/raw skin (erythema - see second photo) which possibly
could be caused by the ammonia levels (?). The hens were all
debeaked, many quite severely. One very emaciated hen suffered a
large mucous-filled growth on the side of her face and was totally
without a top beak (see third photo).
The rescue team vows to continue undercover rescues until all the
hens are free. Peacefully entering into the battery hen hellholes to
rescue the neglected and dying animals while also exposing the
suffering and cruelty is the main thing the egg industry is afraid
of...
We appeal to all activists everywhere to go to the sheds and save
lives.
Photo 1 Michael examines hens in fairly new battery hen shed in
Victoria Australia. Photo: Patty Mark/Action Magazine
Photo 2 Michael holds an ill hen, badly debeaked and suffering
featherloss and erythema. Photo: Patty Mark/Action Magazine
Photo 3 Grossly debeaked and emaciated hen with mucous filled growth
left unattended and untreated. Photo: Romeo Gadze/Action Magazine
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For more information about the Action Animal Rescue Team, contact
Patty Mark at amag@ihug.com.au
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