Animal Welfare Approved???

I recently saw a post somewhere else that someone mentioned they were Animal Welfare Approved. So, I looked into it. I have serious thoughts on weither this is something that could even be done in some of our northern climates. I know here, there is no way! But, then again, I am sure this will go right back to weither or not people think chickens are omnivorse, but that is not really where I am going. If you have time (and I mean time) to check out the link, I am curious who of us could even get close to this. I know I cant. I feed meat in the winter, I have my breeding stock separated, and there is no vet that would treat a bird anywhere up here (my local area). I also do not allow all my birds to see each other all the time. During the spring, I separate my breeding flock and the pens are solid in the bottom 3 feet to keep them from fighting. I rather have fertile eggs then roos fighting between pens. And because I have a stationary chicken house, it has to have a solid floor. Well, mine is gravel. I love it. It drains well and I can still put bedding over it. Oh, and in cold temps it says heat must be provided. What are other thoughts on this "certification"? Would it be feasible for anyone in this climate to actually do all of these things? Oh, and still not break the bank while doing it.

Here is the link:

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I don't know if I would want to be certified. I cannot imagine the work involved...but then I doubt this is aimed at the hobby farmer and more in tune to the commercial meat or egg producer.


Questions I have...

Who raises cloned or genetically engineered birds? Even the meat crosses are a result of their acceptable genetic selection.

How do you stop birds from laying when they reach their 280 egg quota. If they must be free range, how do you even count?

As you mentioned...the vet. None around here that would come out for chickens and still make this financially possible.

Their space regimen does not account for different sizes of chicken.

And then I got tired of reading about 7.3.4

It also mentions that to butcher your birds, they have to go to an Animal Welfare Approved butcher. That one had me laughing. I could never be certified.

You did better than me Schipperkesue, I only got to 3 before I determined it was silly.

2.2.7 The use of birds derived from traditional breeds is recommended.

What constitutes a "Traditional Breed"?  I've always rather admired the people who make their own crosses, aiming for a better producer.  That's how we get new breeds.


3.2.3 Temporarily single-housed birds should have visual and auditory contact with other chickens.

I would expect such stringent regulations to have a stricter quarantine.

Fowler wrote:


3.2.3 Temporarily single-housed birds should have visual and auditory contact with other chickens.

I would expect such stringent regulations to have a stricter quarantine.

Maybe this quarantine is for infractions to the general poultry social structure and said chickens will be let out later for 'good behavior'.

Schipperkesue wrote:

Maybe this quarantine is for infractions to the general poultry social structure and said chickens will be let out later for 'good behavior'.

I suppose using the more common terminology, the "don't-be-a-dick-pen," doesn't have the same ring to it as Temporarily single-housed birds.

authenticfarm wrote:

Schipperkesue wrote:

Maybe this quarantine is for infractions to the general poultry social structure and said chickens will be let out later for 'good behavior'.

I suppose using the more common terminology, the "don't-be-a-dick-pen," doesn't have the same ring to it as Temporarily single-housed birds.

LMBO.

I have seen some amazing farms and ranches and they weren't AWA certified. A couple probably could have but at what point do we stop. I checked thru the site and was bored to sleep when reading it, it drones on and I just couldn't see pushing thru to read the entire thing.

I get what they are trying to do. Some parts are just common sense husbandary that I think many of us already know with our birds [or any livestock for that matter.] Some of the points, especially the parts about using a vet, while nice, I find rather hard to achieve. First & foremost, finding a vet who will do poultry. Could you imagine though having to call out a vet every time a bird seems off, as they suggest. Even as much as I love my birds. I share my home with some of them. Even I wouldn't be calling my vet immediately every time I think a bird appears off its game. Can you imagine the cost? Not to mention I think my vet would think I popped a cog.

Then there is the winter. I do not allow my birds out in the winter. Come snow fall, my birds are inside till spring, about 5 months. I have tried as some suggest about cleaning my runs of snow and to allow them access to the outside. My birds stand in the doorway of their runs and look at me like I have popped a cog. Even my turkey BigGuy will not go out in snow. He will venture out into the snow only if there are clean paths. He hates getting his feet in snow.

toybarons wrote:I get what they are trying to do. Some parts are just common sense husbandary that I think many of us already know with our birds [or any livestock for that matter.] Some of the points, especially the parts about using a vet, while nice, I find rather hard to achieve. First & foremost, finding a vet who will do poultry. Could you imagine though having to call out a vet every time a bird seems off, as they suggest. Even as much as I love my birds. I share my home with some of them. Even I wouldn't be calling my vet immediately every time I think a bird appears off its game. Can you imagine the cost? Not to mention I think my vet would think I popped a cog.

Then there is the winter. I do not allow my birds out in the winter. Come snow fall, my birds are inside till spring, about 5 months. I have tried as some suggest about cleaning my runs of snow and to allow them access to the outside. My birds stand in the doorway of their runs and look at me like I have popped a cog. Even my turkey BigGuy will not go out in snow. He will venture out into the snow only if there are clean paths. He hates getting his feet in snow.

That's interesting toybarons. My birds are out in the snow all the time. I'm usually getting beaten down at the door for them to get out.
I would be going broke if I called my vet out, his call out, travel time would bankrupt me   

Is this the program being put forward by the SPCA? If so, I would stay far far away from this one. I like and respect the purpose of the SPCA, but it is being run by radicals that have far too much PETA influence to be trusted. I've seen too many examples where they target and exploit individuals whom they know are not likely to fight back due to intellectual/financial reasons.

I've seen them needlessly destroy local breeding programs (heritage pig) simply for the media coverage and the public fund raising it created. In the case of the pig seizure, they put the pigs in more harm than the initial farm presented. They had to put animals down due to the injuries they sustained during seizure.

I know from first hand experience that they have no respect nor appreciation for traditional practices. I've seen them force an individual to get a vet for a duck that was limping. If you pasture enough ducks, you will see one limp from time to time. In that case, I recommended to their "officer" to have the duck isolated with a buddy until the leg strengthened. Ignoring the recommendations of the on-site expert, their "order" was for a vet visit. The vet visit was excessive and put the farmer in further financial stress.

At one poultry show, an "officer" tried ordering a bird removed from the show because it was pacing in it's cage. It was pacing because it was about to lay an egg. But, because the "officers" are trained to protect their authority over common sense, she threatened to bring down the full weight of the SPCA and have the fair shut down if the bird was not removed. I tossed her from the poultry barn so the bird could lay it's egg in peace. In the subsequent fair board's complaint to the SPCA, it was made very clear that they were to not have officers on site anymore unless they were willing to conduct themselves with more professionalism and due diligence.

The SPCA came down my driveway once on a fishing trip, on behalf of a certain government agency looking to harass me. Yes, the SPCA is willing to be used as a government whip. When I sent them packing, they were full of threats and bully tactics. Their head office then received a letter from me explaining the conditions upon which the SPCA would be allowed to re-enter my property. Despite all the threats, they have never been back. No profit fighting those who are able and willing to fight back.

This is why the SPCA leaves the poultry "industry alone" but targets small scale backyard farmers. We are an easier and softer targets.

Overall, the SPCA preys on emotions as their primary mode of action. This is an approach that should not be trusted.

The purpose is noble, the implementation is pure evil.

Ruffledfeathers wrote:

toybarons wrote:I get what they are trying to do. Some parts are just common sense husbandary that I think many of us already know with our birds [or any livestock for that matter.] Some of the points, especially the parts about using a vet, while nice, I find rather hard to achieve. First & foremost, finding a vet who will do poultry. Could you imagine though having to call out a vet every time a bird seems off, as they suggest. Even as much as I love my birds. I share my home with some of them. Even I wouldn't be calling my vet immediately every time I think a bird appears off its game. Can you imagine the cost? Not to mention I think my vet would think I popped a cog.

Then there is the winter. I do not allow my birds out in the winter. Come snow fall, my birds are inside till spring, about 5 months. I have tried as some suggest about cleaning my runs of snow and to allow them access to the outside. My birds stand in the doorway of their runs and look at me like I have popped a cog. Even my turkey BigGuy will not go out in snow. He will venture out into the snow only if there are clean paths. He hates getting his feet in snow.

That's interesting toybarons. My birds are out in the snow all the time. I'm usually getting beaten down at the door for them to get out.
I would be going broke if I called my vet out, his call out, travel time would bankrupt me   

My birds are metrosexuals. Very prissy, what can I say. *lol*