Chickens are different than many people think. They are as intelligent as some primates and research shows that they are even future- aware. We think they are no different than common household pets, such as dogs and cats. And they are just fun to watch!
We provide great homes for these intelligent, friendly, happy creatures! They are believed to have been domesticated as early as 3200 BC, around the same time as the domestic cat, so they make great human companions.
Following are some links about the farm and about how poultry are treated in general.
Bird Flu Guidelines for Poultry Keepers Black Hen Farm has taken measures to prevent our birds from contracting contagious disease, such as bird flu. Protecting Domestic Birds From Bird Flu
Predators: What They Do To Chickens, and What Free Range Chicken Keepers Do To Them Message Board (warning: many items are graphic) We're posting this link by request, not to offend or judge anyone. People have asked why we've built the more expensive predator- proof runs and housing that we have. Remember that free range producers compete with commercial producers who have cut-rate prices, and in order to stay in business, they have to cut their costs as much as they can. Consumers need to tell them that they will pay more to offset higher housing costs.
Vegetarian Feed for Poultry Black Hen Farm poultry are fed a vegetarian feed, which is our personal choice. Some operations feed meat and fish protein, often from the discards of the industry. Studies of Red Jungle Fowl, the ancestors of chickens, show that they ate mostly plants (fruits, vegetables, and seeds) and insects. We think that a diet with meat or fish products is unnatural for chickens. Further, research shows that eating "high on the food chain" can cause disease, parasite, and toxin issues. Toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals concentrate more heavily in the fat and organs of animals who eat meat. We don't use animal-derived products on our vegetable and fruit crops either, other than composted bedding from our organically fed poultry and our goats. (One of the following articles has a religious slant; we are posting it purely for the scientific information.) Field Study of Red Jungle Fowl in North-Central India Scientific Reasons Behind Jewish Dietary Laws Some Reasons to Eat Low on the Food Chain
Look for our article in the November 2006 Touch The Soil magazine, a highly recommended publication about small, ecological, humane, and sustainable farms. It has a good blend of practical and conceptual information on both the micro and macro levels.
