Why to some free range egg suppliers still practice debeaking?

Question

Debeaking hens is still permitted under free range standards. But I thought farmers only debeaked to prevent pecking in close confines. If the hens have plenty of room, why do some suppliers still debeak?

Answer 1

"Free range" doesn't always mean "unlimited space and outdoors." In fact, it can mean, "no cages, just all jammed onto the floor of a warehouse."

Write to the farm to ask about their practices, or buy locally from a small farm that you trust.

Answer 2

Sadly, free range only really means "uncaged". This results in hens often being confined very closely together,with little room to move. In these conditions, it's still sadly very economical to debeak so some hens are not harmed. Even in the rare condition that hens do have a lot of room, some farmers don't want to take the risk, even if it's a reduced risk that they will harm any fellow birds.

As a vegan, I hope for the day when hens won't be farmed in such a way anymore. I believe that that day, one day, will come as well.

Answer 3

The free range label is a joke. If you want ethical eggs keep a few hens yourself, or buy them locally and visit the farm.

Answer 4

Because free range chickens de-feather their companions.

Answer 5

"Free range standards"? No such thing. There are no regulations on "free range" eggs. Free range hens don't necessarily have plenty of room. Sure, pretty much all free range farms will not keep their hens in cages, but they often cram a lot of them into a relatively small shed, in which case debeaking is still used to prevent pecking. Unfortunately, a lot of companies just use "free range" as a selling point. They don't really care about the hens, so they just do the least they possibly can while still being able to call it "free range"

Answer 6

Unfortunately the psychology of chickens is that in large numbers they do become aggressive and cannibalistic.

Farmers may think they are doing the right thing, in their own sick and twisted way.