Endless Battery Cages in Egg Factory Farm by Farm Sanctuary

Lately, chickens are the centerpiece of a growing political battle in America.  Little did Henny Penny know, that one state’s effort to pass a state law to provide her with a slightly larger battery cage at the factory egg farm would cause a national, political stir. 

Chickens in Battery Cages by AnimalRightsCenter [note their toes]

On today’s episode, we will discuss and consider California’s Proposition 2, which was passed in 2008 and goes into full force and effect on January 1, 2015.  Prop 2, which passed with unprecedented support in the history of ballot initiatives in California, requires Californian farmers to provide certain farm animals with expanded minimal requirements regarding their confinement. Specifically, confined farm animals must be able to freely turn, sit down, stand up, and extend their limbs inside of their cages.

For chickens, Prop 2 changes the standards for using battery cages in egg factory farms in California.  Under Prop 2, battery-caged hens will have their individual living space expanded to 200 square inches per bird.  In floor space inside the cage, 200 square inches is roughly 14 inches x 14 inches.  The increase to 200 square inches of space per hen is approximately 3 times the current industry standard of provided living space per bird.

Battery-Caged Hens by smiteme

The provision of California’s Prop 2 that has out-of-state lawmakers’ feathers ruffled, is that under this measure out-of-state egg farmers must adhere to the same 200 square inches per bird standard in order to sell their eggs inside of California.  Iowan Republican Representative, Steve King, is leading the attack against Prop 2, through the Federal Farm Bill.  King had an amendment added to the Federal Farm Bill that prohibits California from banning out-of-state eggs from being sold inside its state borders.  Supporters of Prop 2 argue that without the ability to ban traditional battery cage produced eggs from coming into California, that the unfair competition will either kill the state’s egg industry or gut the proposition.

We will discuss Prop 2 in further detail and also consider what the EU is doing in regards to factory egg farming since imposing a ban against the use of traditional battery cages.  Also provided is a link to a segment from the Stephen Colbert Show satirizing Representative King’s opposition to Prop 2.  It is hillarious!

In the Sally’s Sidenotes segment today, we look at a recent study that shows eating plenty of chicken as a teenager might save your life when you’re much older.

DelMarVa Giant Fry Pan by Pastorfuture

In this week’s Chicken News, we talk about the 64th annual DelMarVa Chicken Festival (which just took place this past weekend) and the festival’s Giant Fry Pan (arguably the world’s largest frying pan).  In this segment, I make an exciting announcement today about a new feature that I will be adding in the very near future to the Urban Chicken Podcast’s website.  This new website feature should be of value and help to the audience.  Listen to find out what is coming to the webpage very, very soon.

DelMarVa Chicken Festival’s Giant Fry Pan by waxingkara

 Chicken News Resources:

• DelMarVa Now – Chicken Festival Cheap Delights? ARTICLE
• StarDem.Com – Chicken Festival Highlights ARTICLE 
• History of the DelMarVa Giant Fry Pan WEBPAGE
• WDEL 1150AM – DelMarVa Chicken Festival Celebrates Heritage AUDIO

Main Segment Resources: 

• BONUS VIDEO – Stephen Colbert Satire over Prop 2 Opponents VIDEO
• Fox News – Iowa Rep. King Scrambles to Stop Prop 2 VIDEO
• LA Times – Efforts to Protect CA Prop 2 from Fed law fails ARTICLE
• FoodSafetyNews – Fight over Proposed Fed Egg Farm Standards ARTICLE
• United Egg Producers – Egg Bill Website
• PoultryTimes.net – CA farmers frustrated over Prop 2 ARTICLE 
• EU ban on Traditional Battery Cages ARTICLE
• BBC – EU Bans Battery Cages ARTICLE 
• Deutsche Welle – EU Egg Law Causing Price Hikes ARTICLE

Sally’s Sidenotes Resources:

• Fox News – Eating Chicken As Teen Fights Off Colon Cancer ARTICLE
• American Journal of Epidemiology – Chicken & Colon Cancer STUDY

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