Thursday, November 04, 2010

Free Range Chicken Farming


It's healthier. You get a leaner bird
with thick-shelled eggs, more vitamins and taste
and fewer antibios. Who'd complain?
I'm not convinced that poultry spirits yearn
for freedom: that's a lot for chicken brains
to grasp. But God knows I would have preferred
to shoo the hens outdoors to scratch and peck
instead of shoveling deep-litter waste
in stifling heat and ammoniac stink.
If it gets on your skin, it makes you burn.
The smell gets into all your food and drink.
You'd like to wring each scrawny feathered neck.
They say it's more humane, and I agree,
not for birds, but farmers who range free.

image courtesy of Magpie Tales
Collection available! Knocking from Inside

12 comments:

Helen said...

I agree too!!! You make the perfect case for ranging free! Not only chickens - we humans too.

ninotaziz said...

to shoo the hens outdoors to scratch and peck
instead of shoveling deep-litter waste
in stifling heat and ammoniac stink.

Oh yes...you make perfect sense Tiel Aisha Ansari!

Tess Kincaid said...

Great thoughts on the free range chicken farms.

Unknown said...

it sounds a lot more humane to me

Kristen Haskell said...

I am with you on this one. :)

Martin said...

I really liked your take on this one.

Lyn said...

Freedom to take a walk outside..that's what we all need..very original!

Suz said...

I'm with you

Tumblewords: said...

Well done, as always!

Anonymous said...

Nice critique of factory farming

Brian Miller said...

nice. it seems a much better way...

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

true.
keep inspiring.