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Does everyone buy free-range?

TheDailyBumbler [Edit] [Delete] 90 replies 15:51 September 4th, 2008

I couldn't imagine anyone not to.

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i do

creakyknees | 4 Sep '08, 15:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
Yea

I never buy cheap eggs, I can't eat meat anymore and I ALWAYS buy free range milk :)

Yesiamaduck | 4 Sep '08, 15:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
Nah.

I like the taste of caged eggs. Just a little more... restrained.

crablin | 4 Sep '08, 15:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
yep.

Ricky_Ronco | 4 Sep '08, 15:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
I insist the chickens laying my milk have been

ritually bummed.

tippimit | 4 Sep '08, 15:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
- :D
  
  ronslunchbox @tippimit | 4 Sep '08, 22:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
Eggs yes,

chicken no - it's too expensive. I think I'm going to be eating vegetarian food at uni.

thephotobooth | 4 Sep '08, 15:54 | X | ^ This | Reply
No.

When I did buy eggs, I bought the ones where the chickens get to run around in the woods because the mental image of such a thing was quite charming.

Even though it was probably a lie :(

scarlet_apples | 4 Sep '08, 15:54 | X | ^ This | Reply
yeah

whiterussian | 4 Sep '08, 15:55 | X | ^ This | Reply
I've a friend who refuses to now

as he found out that most of the time they're not even free range at all anyway, and he won't support a system that doesn't regulate properly.

This may only be back in Australia, I haven't looked into it properly here.

I tried to argue with him that even if only 30% are actually free range, it's supply and demand that will force the caged egg producers to shut down completely, but he's having none of it.

bleak | 4 Sep '08, 16:03 | X | ^ This | Reply
- i can agree with him
  
  'free range' is a wooly term, and can mean a lot of things. The amount of time some chickens have to be outdoors to be considered free range is very minimal, and some aren't even outdoors at all, just not in cages. it's difficult to know unless you buy really locally.
  
  pretty_vacant @bleak | 4 Sep '08, 16:07 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Interesting, and somewhat distressing.
    
    I should look into this further.
    
    bleak @pretty_vacant | 4 Sep '08, 16:08 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - if you look into organic standards vs free range
      
      you'll find that organically bred and farmed dairy animals have much better living conditions than free range animals.
      
      pretty_vacant @bleak | 4 Sep '08, 16:36 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - Oh yeah for sure.
        
        I'm not that naive. But naive enough to be calmed too easily by those little words "free range" perhaps...
        
        bleak @pretty_vacant | 4 Sep '08, 16:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - egg's that are loosely free range
    
    are still a hell of a lot better than battery farming. i agree it's still a long way from a perfect situation, but the alternative was just barbaric.
    
    asita @pretty_vacant | 4 Sep '08, 17:14 | X | ^ This | Reply
they still throw all the male chicks in a blender

ThingsThatFly | 4 Sep '08, 16:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
no, i buy organic

organic standards of living are higher than free range, folks! but more expensive :(

pretty_vacant | 4 Sep '08, 16:05 | X | ^ This | Reply
barn eggs

becca-ca-ca | 4 Sep '08, 16:07 | X | ^ This | Reply
yes, always. usually organic

same with milk

it's only a few pence more

_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 16:07 | X | ^ This | Reply
Nope

I know a bit about the egg industry and have been to both battery and free-range farms and I choose battery every time.

laelfy | 4 Sep '08, 16:40 | X | ^ This | Reply
- why?
  
  _vikram @laelfy | 4 Sep '08, 16:46 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - ^
    
    ?
    
    bleak @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 16:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Various reasons
    
    I could write an essay on the subject but won't.
    Bascially, I don't think that free range conditions are much of an improvement on battery conditions to warrant the fuss. I have a lot of experience of chickens and whilst I concede that battery conditions are crampt, I also know that chickens prefer to be squashed up against each other, for warmth and safety reasons and will do so out of choice. If you visit free-range farms, you won't find many of the chickens outside.
    
    Secondly, it is much easier to control disease under battery conditions - water and food intake is very closely monitored in battery farms and any change will indicate disease in a flock very quickly, and will pinpoint where the problem is. This allows the disease to be isolated and the sick can be culled without interfering with the rest. In a freerange or barn situation, the entire flock would be killed.
    
    laelfy @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 16:58 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - If I had my own way,
      
      I would have my own chickens and get my eggs from them.
      
      laelfy @laelfy | 4 Sep '08, 17:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - Maybe a reason to go organic instead then?
        
        bleak @laelfy | 4 Sep '08, 17:12 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - but battery farmed hen's
      
      aren't able to stand up, let alone move. sure they like being close together, but being unable to use their muscles or move around at all seems like a distinction to me...
      
      asita @laelfy | 4 Sep '08, 17:16 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - battery farms are being forced by EU law
        
        to increase the size of the cages which should make things better.
        
        Also, chickens behave under a pecking order system - which is the wild would only be a dozen or so chickens. Can you imagine the chaos of hundreds of chickens all in one barn? A lot of pecking goes on.
        
        laelfy @asita | 4 Sep '08, 17:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
Yes... and have done for years.

Rose-Kitten | 4 Sep '08, 16:46 | X | ^ This | Reply
nah

chickens are wankers they should be locked up

colonol_k | 4 Sep '08, 16:48 | X | ^ This | Reply
- not all of them are
  
  'Racist'
  
  aishapra @colonol_k | 4 Sep '08, 16:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - ^^
    
    PC brigade
    
    colonol_k @aishapra | 4 Sep '08, 16:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - ^^
      
      homophobe
      
      aishapra @colonol_k | 4 Sep '08, 16:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - ive got nothin against gays
        
        i just think they should go back to where they come from. theres no homo in the union jack
        
        colonol_k @aishapra | 4 Sep '08, 17:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        ^^ sexist
        
        why not 'Union Jill' ?
        
        aishapra @colonol_k | 4 Sep '08, 17:06 | X | ^ This | Reply
HEY EVERYONE!

PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK!

ClicheGuevara | 4 Sep '08, 16:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
- it's terribel when people do ethical thing isn't it?
  
  does a little bit of your 'soul' die each time you hear of such irrationality?
  
  _vikram @ClicheGuevara | 4 Sep '08, 16:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
Doesn't matter.

The chicken's getting killed either way.

gggg | 4 Sep '08, 16:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
- sigh
  
  _vikram @gggg | 4 Sep '08, 17:14 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - its true though
    
    SHANDYHOLMES @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:19 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - I'm allowed to say that.
    
    vegan.
    
    gggg @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - And you are going to die some day.
      
      Might as well try and make it nice while you're around eh?
      
      Balonz @gggg | 4 Sep '08, 17:22 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - ah okay
      
      well you're right. but given these animals are gonna be enslaved and killed, we might as well reduce the misery of their lives as much as feasible
      
      _vikram @gggg | 4 Sep '08, 17:23 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - *despite being enslaved and killed
        
        we still should
        
        _vikram @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - "misery"
        
        i really can't imagine how fuckheaded you'd have to be to actually think that a battery chicken, which is essentially a swelling ball of meat can be called miserable when it doesn't know any other life at all
        
        alcxxk @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        it still feels pain
        
        _vikram @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:56 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        EMO CHICKEN!
        
        ClicheGuevara @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        these things are all relative though, right?
        
        i just can't empathise with a chicken. i'm a monster
        
        alcxxk @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:18 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        yes, yes you are
        
        :)
        
        _vikram @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 18:19 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        swelling ball of meat?
        
        you have a beautiful way with words, christopher.
        
        scarlet_apples @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 18:06 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        you can use that in a song if you like?
        
        alcxxk @scarlet_apples | 4 Sep '08, 18:18 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        yes
        
        hurry up and write that song :]
        
        jade_f @scarlet_apples | 6 Sep '08, 03:46 | X | ^ This | Reply
yes

at the moment the farms where i can get nice meat, eggs, milk and veg from are closer than any supermarket.

soapy | 4 Sep '08, 16:57 | X | ^ This | Reply
dunno

they taste nice

SHANDYHOLMES | 4 Sep '08, 17:15 | X | ^ This | Reply
you can't imagine people being poor?

alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:16 | X | ^ This | Reply
- He shouldn't have to!
  
  waaaaaaah! But srsly folks, i'm not sure what the price gap is, how much more expensive are they?
  
  ChrisJabe @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:17 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - my eggs: 15 for £1.50
    
    'spensive eggs: £2 for 6?
    
    alcxxk @ChrisJabe | 4 Sep '08, 17:49 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - Sounds 'bout right.
      
      CaviarAndCigarets @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 18:12 | X | ^ This | Reply
- it's pennies
  
  if you give a shit about animal welfare then cut back some other place. if you don't, don't
  
  _vikram @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - now
    
    i'm no expert, but that makes very little sense to me
    
    ChrisJabe @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - cos if they're poor, they can't cut back
      
      there.
      
      ChrisJabe @ChrisJabe | 4 Sep '08, 17:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - few people are THAT poor
        
        the vast majority of people in this country could cutback a quid or two somewhere and buy free range eggs instead. if they believed in it enough
        
        _vikram @ChrisJabe | 4 Sep '08, 17:49 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - spend a bit more on eggs
      
      spend a bit less on whatever else
      
      _vikram @ChrisJabe | 4 Sep '08, 17:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - no shoes this year!
        
        we're being ethical
        
        twicetwoequalsfour @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:31 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - it's pennies?
    
    its generally a 300% price increase.
    
    but no, i don;t give a shit about animal welfare anyway
    
    alcxxk @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 17:47 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - same
      
      Martbowski @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:54 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - at tescos
      
      value eggs are 88p for 6, free range £1.36, organic £1.82. how maqny eggs do people buy per week? yes percentage-wise there is a big difference, but in actual cost it really is pennies.
      
      if you don't care about animal welfare, then sure why would you buy organic? but if you do, 'poverty' except in rare cases really isn't the issue. the vast majority can afford the difference. they just don't think the animal welfare gains are important.
      
      _vikram @alcxxk | 4 Sep '08, 17:55 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - But how many people just buy one
        
        animal related product in their shopping?
        
        If you wanted to buy a chicken as well, and some mince etc etc, and it was all free range/organic, your weekly shop which, for arguments sake would normally be around £20-£25, would easily be bumped up to the mid £30s.
        
        ClicheGuevara @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:01 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        yes but it's not either or
        
        you can buy ethical products where they are affordable. eggs and milk for example. reducing the suffering you cause is better than doing nothing because you can't afford to reduce all of the suffering
        
        _vikram @ClicheGuevara | 4 Sep '08, 18:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        *reducing some of the suffering
        
        is better than reducing none of it
        
        _vikram @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:05 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        A fair point,
        
        and one that i'd agree with.
        
        ClicheGuevara @_vikram | 4 Sep '08, 18:06 | X | ^ This | Reply
yes

fuck_this_band | 4 Sep '08, 18:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
...

Eggs is eggs.

Stealthy | 4 Sep '08, 18:08 | X | ^ This | Reply
it varies

I bought some caged eggs today. Free range most of the time though.

Interesting side-note - at my sainsbury's local, organic milk is actually cheaper than 'normal' milk (though they try to fool you by selling the normal milk in litre containers and the organic stuff in pint ones - both display the 'pence per litre' in small print, however).

Smigs | 4 Sep '08, 18:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
Surely an important factor here is....

TASTE. Can you taste the difference? I can't.

CaviarAndCigarets | 4 Sep '08, 18:15 | X | ^ This | Reply
- i didnt think i could taste the difference
  
  but free range eggs with a big yolk are really a LOT tastier. not tastier enough for me to care tho
  
  alcxxk @CaviarAndCigarets | 4 Sep '08, 18:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
I do.

I have also given up buying chicken as I can't afford free range meat. In fact, I've basically given up buying meat, apart from the occasional really awesome steak.

fionapinkstars | 4 Sep '08, 18:27 | X | ^ This | Reply
I buy free-range

But this was an experiment to see if the most inane thread title could garner 60+ replies. Alas, it does.

TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 20:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
- hey bumbler
  
  here's a question?
  
  are you a tidy person or a messy person??????
  
  michael_w @TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 20:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - I think i might be messy, michael
    
    Does that quench your curiousity?
    
    TheDailyBumbler @michael_w | 4 Sep '08, 20:34 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - it has saturated my evening
      
      michael_w @TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 20:34 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - :D
        
        you two go well together
        like chocolate and cheese and onion crisps.
        but which is which?!
        DUM DUM DUUUUUUUM
        
        doodthatkicksarse @michael_w | 4 Sep '08, 20:45 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        Or pig-shit and gob-shite
        
        TheDailyBumbler @doodthatkicksarse | 4 Sep '08, 22:02 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        pork scratchings and bacon fries
        
        michael_w @TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 22:05 | X | ^ This | Reply
Yes

If anyone complains about the price, but (for instance) drinks loads at pubs, that's lame. The difference between a free-range chicken and a battery one is:

1) the taste
2) the difference between having five pints at the pub and having four

You eat something, it becomes a part of you. So nothing's more important. Yet for so many, it's always the first thing that gets budgeted on when the pinch kicks in...

Damian | 4 Sep '08, 21:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
- And the fact the chickens are treated like hell-hounds
  
  I refuse to buy battery eggs
  
  TheDailyBumbler @Damian | 4 Sep '08, 22:13 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - i bought battery eggs
    
    but they just made my remote all yokey
    
    michael_w @TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 22:29 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - :DDDD
      
      TheDailyBumbler @michael_w | 4 Sep '08, 22:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
Yep

katti | 4 Sep '08, 22:22 | X | ^ This | Reply
i always do yes

and ones with the lion on them.

I don't buy eggs as often anymore because the price has gone up loads. From 95p for 6 medium eggs to about £1.30, in three years. That's more than a 10% increase per year.

Of course, large eggs are usually worth the extra cost. I was just using medium eggs by way of an example.

ImageChange | 4 Sep '08, 22:29 | X | ^ This | Reply
This thread hasd made me like _vikram

I'm on the chickens side

TheDailyBumbler | 4 Sep '08, 22:30 | X | ^ This | Reply

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