In June the fourth largest poultry-producer in the country, Perdue Farms, announced that they would begin implementing a variety of reforms designed to improve the lives of the chickens in their operations. Animal rights groups hailed the move as a milestone for an industry that has recently faced serious ethical concerns. Now GNP Co., the Midwest’s […]
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Since they were first domesticated in China roughly 10,000 years ago, Chickens have been kept almost exclusively as livestock, rather than companion animals. Sure, we might appreciate their unique personalities and distinctly comical behaviors, but that’s not why we typically raise chickens. For the vast majority of people, it’s all about the meat and eggs. […]
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Every summer, health departments all across the country launch campaigns to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. West Nile prevention efforts are taken especially seriously in hot southern states where mosquito activity is more prevalent. Humans infected by the virus can exhibit a variety of symptoms, from fever and headaches to more […]
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Salmonella outbreaks have once again become a hot topic of discussion in the food processing industry. Recently, the USDA introduced new testing protocols designed to minimize the risk of outbreaks in poultry operations. Meanwhile, grocery store chain Whole Foods has been forced to issue recalls due to possible salmonella contamination in raw macadamia nuts. Today […]
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Currently, male chicks hatched to egg-laying hens in factory farms have pretty bleak prospects. Within a day, these chicks are sorted from their female counterparts and tossed unceremoniously into what amounts to a very large blender. It’s a practical consideration for egg producers, but it’s all pretty grisly and dystopian. Roughly 100 million male chicks […]
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This week, the fourth-largest poultry producer in the country revealed plans to institute a number of reforms that focus on improving the lives of the chickens in their operations. Animal rights groups such as the Human Society of the United States (HSUS) and Mercy For Animals are hailing the announcement as an important step forward […]
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A team of researchers from the Dresden University of Technology and the University of Leipzig has developed an innovative new way to sex chicks before they hatch. The technique is 95 percent effective, and could potentially eliminate the need for commercial poultry operations to cull millions of day-old male chicks each year. So how […]
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Protecting your flock from mites and lice can seem like an impossible problem. In fact, many poultry producers in years past didn’t even bother trying to get rid of mites, lice and similar pest infestations because it was such a common and invasive problem. Fortunately, there are now some easy things you can do to […]
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If you raise chickens, chances are you’ve got more eggshells in the kitchen than you know what to do with. In an earlier entry, we showed you how to make seed planters out of discarded eggshells. In fact, this is just one of many practical uses for eggshells! Today we’ll share a few more of […]
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Springtime is upon us, and that means it’s time to get outside and breathe new life into our gardens. Why not making some DIY seed planters next time you whip up scrambled eggs for breakfast? Eggshells make perfect planters – they’re small, biodegradable and they’ll provide your plants with valuable nutrients as they deteriorate in […]
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