Fewer Rights Than Free-Range Chickens?

Shona M. Barcus, Chief Executive, Scottish Association for Mental Health, wrote: “Inside an egg carton in a popular supermarket, the rights of free range chickens are articulated and the consumer is told that the hens have enjoyed freedom from:

• Fear and Distress
• Pain, Injury and Disease
• Discomfort
• Hunger and Thirst
• Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

It is good to know that chickens have rights. They have had a rough deal. I’m just unsure whether the rights of people living with mental ill health always match up.” (Shona M. Barcus, SAMH quote from: Annual Report and Accounts 2001).

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In comparison we have done some exhaustive and prolonged research through the internet and only looked at one groceries website. So according to ASDA Groceries brand marketing of one product:

ASDA can assure us that their eggs are “from farms independently monitored for welfare:” “At the happy egg co. all our hens live on the best British farms with the highest of standards. We believe that happy hens lay really tasty eggs.

Our path to happiness
1 platinum & gold graded farms
2 higher welfare
3 enriched, natural diets
4 an active environment
We know that if we keep our girls happy they’ll lay tasty eggs with rich golden yolks. That’s why our path to happiness ensures they have the highest standards of care.
We’re always looking to take the next step so our girls are even happier.” (https://groceries.asda.com/product/free-range/the-happy-egg-co-12-mixed-sized-free-range-eggs/910002986285 – 10 Jan 2021)

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Stigma RTS: Now getting back to rights, or the lack of. We can see that the free range hens described by ASDA have been independently checked to make sure their hens “live on the best British farms with the highest of standards.”

From our research, do free range chickens get a better albeit shorter life than mentally unwell people? If you were put in a cage (or free range enclosure) how well would you like to be treated?

We will be following up with another update to follow the campaign by the Scottish Association of Mental Health, and how people with mental health problems feel about Chickens.

Our follow up article will be entitled “HOW WOULD I FEEL IF PEOPLE CALLED ME CHICKEN?”

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ASDA Groceries/Happy Egg Co quote from: (https://groceries.asda.com/product/free-range/the-happy-egg-co-12-mixed-sized-free-range-eggs/910002986285) The Happy Egg Co logo is the copyright of The Happy Egg Co and sourced from: (https://thehappyegg.co.uk/) – both sourced 10 Jan 2021.