Hen house in Clyth.

[porshiepoo]

Has anyone seen the soon to be 'hen house' in Clyth???

Most people seem to be excited at the prospect of 'free range eggs' however it has to be said that I once looked at a property near one of these places and the smell.............well it was rancid!
Wonder how many people downwind of it have actually thought about that part of it.

Besides, I always imagined 'free range' to be out in the open with free range of the land not something like 15 squished into a square metre (you'll have to excuse my facts on that bit as it's all I can find out on the net - please correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't think it will effect us too much - unless the winds a strong one coming from that way - but what's everyone wlse think of it? Especially those nearby? Bothered or not??
I hope the venture takes of for the person concerned and good luck to em, lets just hope the stench ain't too much to bear.

[johno]

Has anyone seen the soon to be 'hen house' in Clyth???

Most people seem to be excited at the prospect of 'free range eggs' however it has to be said that I once looked at a property near one of these places and the smell.............well it was rancid!
Wonder how many people downwind of it have actually thought about that part of it.

Besides, I always imagined 'free range' to be out in the open with free range of the land not something like 15 squished into a square metre (you'll have to excuse my facts on that bit as it's all I can find out on the net - please correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't think it will effect us too much - unless the winds a strong one coming from that way - but what's everyone wlse think of it? Especially those nearby? Bothered or not??
I hope the venture takes of for the person concerned and good luck to em, lets just hope the stench ain't too much to bear.

Porshiepoo, you are quite right ,free range eggs are laid by hens that are free range, i/e out in the open and not caged up, nor are they force fed intensive layers feed and spend all their useful lives cooped up in a box that they can hardly turn around in. I used to deliver feed to the one at upper Milton and i always felt sorry for the poor birds, what a sorry life they must have had.

[jacktar]

No doubt,another from the south looking for the "good life"

[donnalee1994]

Wrong there its a scots man

[_Ju_]

Free range is defined as hens being free to roam and housed in sheds or barns only at night or adverse weather conditions. They can root and will hide eggs, are subject to the natural light and because they have space, do not need to be debeaked.

Industrial farming for eggs envolve battery cages piled one ontop of another, with each hen having less "personal" space in each battery cage than a piece of A4 size paper. The hens are force fed by manipulating lighting levels. The hens are often forced to moult, after which egg production usually goes up. The are often de-beaked (I'll leave that to the imagination). Hens are considered spent at 1 year of age when egg production starts to decline, and they are sent, for the most part, to slaughter for animal food. Personally I find intensive farming much more ofensive in olfactory terms: there are huge numbers of animals kept in a very small space.

There are some very good free range eggs produced locally at the "market" (I find it hard to call three stalls a market.... ) in Wick every saturday afternoon. Do an experimant: buy industrial eggs and these free range ones. Prepare them you favorite way (scrambled for me) and compare. The difference is huge.

[Oddquine]

I think I may well often be downwind of it............but I'll wait for the smell before coming to conclusions.

Aren't free-range hens more limited at the moment with the prospect of bird-flu necessitating they be kept mostly under cover?

Given the size of the building, and the number of hens I've heard will be kept, shouldn't be too squished....and not battery or caged.

[porshiepoo]

No doubt,another from the south looking for the "good life"

Nah, we can't be blamed for this one I'm afraid. It's a local man - born and bred.

I can only assume that a possible decline in crofting profits is forcing the crofters to look into other avenues of earning a buck.

For me, the idea of keeping any animal in conditions like these chicken farms, is unimaginable. Yet again we see the suffering of innocent animals for the greed of man, it's barbaric.
I completely understand the rearing of animals for a food source but only when kept in suitable conditions and to me 15 hens to a square metre is not 'suitable' or adequate.

I really don't think that locals may fully understand what the smell will be like once this venture takes off. I can honestly say there is no smell worse than chicken poop - and I've dealt with pretty much all poop from cows, horses, dogs to babies. Chicken poop sets like blinkin cement and is the most foul stench I know.
Of course that doesn't even take into account the likely attraction to vermin. Yuk!

[porshiepoo]

I think I may well often be downwind of it............but I'll wait for the smell before coming to conclusions.

Aren't free-range hens more limited at the moment with the prospect of bird-flu necessitating they be kept mostly under cover?

Given the size of the building, and the number of hens I've heard will be kept, shouldn't be too squished....and not battery or caged.

Hmmmmmm. Not caged no but picture 15 hens per square metre - thats 3.2 feet. I think most people will agree that that has to be pretty cramped.
I'm not against them being kept undercover if it's the safest thing for all involved, my query is whether this can then be called 'free range'. If it can then my illusion of the eggs I go out my way to buy has been severley shattered.

What are the disease implications for hens kept in these conditions anyway?


I've just found this little snippet on the web. My lord, is this really acceptable conditions? It would seem our new local hen house will be more along the lines of a hotel compared to the over crowding allowed.

EC regulations means hens can be stocked at 25 hens per square metre floor space with 15 cm perching space/bird. This can create stress from overcrowding leading to aggressive behaviour, feather-pecking and cannibalism. Debeaking is common in perchery systems. Another problem of overcrowding is birds crashing into one another whilst attempted to land on perches. 25% of perchery hens may have broken bones before transport to slaughter due to flight and landing accidents. This is a much higher level than either battery or free-range hens.

Incidentally, the de-beaking involves cutting off approx one third of the beak.... with no anaesthetic. Hope our manny's not gonna do that

I've also noticed that to be called 'free range' then the hens must have access to outside runs at all times.

[Oddquine]

Hmmmmmm. Not caged no but picture 15 hens per square metre - thats 3.2 feet. I think most people will agree that that has to be pretty cramped.
I'm not against them being kept undercover if it's the safest thing for all involved, my query is whether this can then be called 'free range'. If it can then my illusion of the eggs I go out my way to buy has been severley shattered.

What are the disease implications for hens kept in these conditions anyway?


I've just found this little snippet on the web. My lord, is this really acceptable conditions? It would seem our new local hen house will be more along the lines of a hotel compared to the over crowding allowed.

Incidentally, the de-beaking involves cutting off approx one third of the beak.... with no anaesthetic. Hope our manny's not gonna do that

I've also noticed that to be called 'free range' then the hens must have access to outside runs at all times.

Have to say I've no idea of the area of the barn.........but it looks big.

Maybe not free range then but "Barn" eggs.........are produced from hens kept in loose flocks confined within a shed. Birds in this system are not caged and can roam throughout their house but are not let outside. They are provided with perches, platforms, and nestboxes and litter areas. Some barn units keep their hens in large flock sizes of up to 16,000 birds in conditions that can resemble a crowded football terrace.

Don't think, from what I've heard that the hens are going to be nearly that crowded.

[j4bberw0ck]

I really don't think that locals may fully understand what the smell will be like once this venture takes off. I can honestly say there is no smell worse than chicken poop

Look on the bright side; it could be a pig farm. Now they smell...........

[htwood]

Spot on, j4bberw0ck, nothing smells worse than a pig farm. In a former life, I rode my bicycle from London to Harwich, which must be pork country. What I would have given for windows that rolled up LOL

Vermin are attracted to just about anything that will feed or shelter them, including our own houses. Nothing special about hens that will bring the mice.

I wish every success to the hen house. Takes courage to start a new business.

[Tristan]

There are some very good free range eggs produced locally at the "market" (I find it hard to call three stalls a market.... ) in Wick every saturday afternoon. Do an experimant: buy industrial eggs and these free range ones. Prepare them you favorite way (scrambled for me) and compare. The difference is huge.

You are right Ju the local eggs are very good. Even if you compare them to free range eggs from the supermarkets the local eggs are much better.
The Halkirk farm does free range eggs on the Thurso side which are sold in a few shops including McKay's. Fantastic eggs.

[Tristan]

No doubt,another from the south looking for the "good life"

Why would that matter?

[j4bberw0ck]

Maybe he just resents - in principle - people bringing their money into the area and investing it in business, helping the local economy and doing a little bit to try to ensure remote areas stay viable as places to live.

Maybe Stroma would be a suitable refuge for him, and place to live?

[bigpete]

Hi Folks
Re free range chicken regulations see: http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/Poultry/Free_Range_Poultry/Free_Range_Flock_Regulations.php

Incidentally it's no more than a thousand chickens to a hectare (1,000 chickens to 10, 000 square metres)

[brandy]

oi.. we grew up with chickens and roosters.. *laughs* i have many a fond memories.. of playing with them.
they had a hen house but dont think they ever used it.. we (brothers and i) use to distract the mother hen.. catch the chicks and hold and cuddle them.. then run like the dickens when mama hen figured out we had one of her babies!
we had an old rooster that would set on the well house and wait for us to go by and jump down on our heads!
the dogs were afraid of the roosters! and this were st benards and alsations!

that rooster was evil i say .. pure evil!

anyway.. our chicken usualy roosted in the trees.. i hardly ever saw them in the hen house.. they lay their eggs in there but that was just about it!
funny thing is i never really remember seeing much poo except around the hen house.. and that was cleaned out every week.. so dont really know.. and i was just a kid at the time.
all we had to do was feed them and collect eggs. now that was fun.. trying to get an egg when a hen was sitting!

[Cattach]

No doubt,another from the south looking for the "good life"

Yes, those s from Sutherland get everywhere!!

[tako sum]

From what I've heard the eggs are going to be organic free range. The hens will be able to go outside into the field next to the shed as they please. Think the rules and regs also state that organic free range have more space per hen in the shed than free range.
Sorry to disappoint Ju but the free range eggs that are on sale at the market in wick to my knowledge come from a very similar set up.....large shed with access to outside!

[porshiepoo]

Well, I hope the venture takes off, as long as the chicken are treated humanely and the smell don't waft it's way down here too regular

Just have to say I disagree re the smell though. I too have worked with pigs and I can honestly say that for me, chicken smell beats em hands down.

I have awful memories of chicken, lol, in fact hubby wanted some at one point and I point blank refuse. They are foul! Pardon the pun. lol.
They roost as high as possible just sop they can aim that projectile cement based liquid at you, and once it's set theres just no getting it off. Awful stuff!

I do find some of the feathery ones quite pretty but thats about as far as it goes and of course I don't mind any variety on the dinner table but when alls said and done I wouldn't want any cruelty to be done to any.
So, hopefully this particular farmer will let them live a life of luxury before they're all caught, boxed up and killed. Eek!

[wifie]

There is an organic farm and shop/restaurant just down the road from us and there are free range hens there. There does not seem to be any smell and they sure look like happy hens when viewed from the restaurant. The eggs are fantastic much better than anything you get in the supermarket. The thing is you gets what you pays for and as long as people want cheap there will be intensive/battery type farming and if you feel that strongly don't buy the stuff and maybe it will go away. Most alien stuff added to food is for cheapness - read before you buy.