Action Animal Rescue Team 7/21/2000
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


For more information
about the
Action Animal
Rescue Team,
contact Patty Mark at
amag@ihug.com.au
Action Animal Rescue Team 7/21/2000