forced molting in Canada

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SHOULD CANADIANS STARVE HENS TO FORCE MOLT THEM?

 

WHAT IS FORCED MOLTING?

 

" Forced molting, " or total starvation, is a way to get more eggs out of

chickens. After an average of 10 days or as long as 14 days straight, without

any food whatsoever, after losing up to 35% of their bodyweight, denuded of

feathers, starved and deranged by fear, many hens produce more eggs when they

are given food again. However, because of forced molting, millions of

hens in the U.S.A. die each year from the stress of starvation and many

choke to death when food is finally returned to them.

 

THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF SALMONELLA POISONING

 

Forced molting destroys a hen's immune system, causing a rise in deadly

salmonella bacteria in their bodies. Studies have consistently shown:

decreased T-cells, intestinal bleeding, and a rise in salmonella bacteria in

the eggs of force molted chickens. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection

Service [FSIS] says: " FSIS recognizes that public health concerns are

raised...extended starvation leads to increased shedding of salmonella " .

 

KEEP FORCED MOLTING OUT OF CANADA

 

Forced molting has been banned in Great Britain since 1987. Until now, forced

molting - the deliberate starvation method used in the U.S. to recycle flocks

of hens used for egg production rather than replace them - has seldom been

used in Canada, because the quota system in Canada has made it uneconomical

to keep hens for a second year. However, the quota system may soon be dropped

under the NAFTA Agreement. As a result, Canadian egg producers have been

doing experimental molting to see how it pays off. A recent issue of the

Ontario Farmer said the Ontario Egg Board is " looking at using moulted flocks

to provide more eggs. " In Canada there are no laws to protect farm animals,

only voluntary codes of practice with no penalties for infractions.

 

WHAT CAN I DO?

 

Write letters to the editor of your newspaper protesting against forced

molting being brought to Canada.

 

Let government officials know you don't want forced molting in Canada.

Contact: Lyle Vanclief, Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, House of

Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6.

 

For a 16 page report on Forced Molting, visit the website of United Poultry

Concerns <www.upc-online.com> or contact them by telephone

<(757)678-7875> or regular mail <P.O. Box 150, Machipongo, VA 23405-0150,

U.S.A.>.