But have you heard of battery cages for chickens? This is a very common chicken farming practice that a lot of people probably don't know about. Battery cages are small, wire cages where many chickens are packed closely together. In these tiny quarters, the chickens have hardly any space at all to move. As a result, they are unable to spread their wings, walk, or even roost on perches as they would in the wild. They do not feel well and stressed, which is not good for their health and well-being at all.
Battery cages are also considered as the most economical method to raise chickens so, many farmers have adopted it to save cost. While this may seem like a clever decision for the farmers, it does not bode well for the chickens. These cages restrict the movement of the chickens, but they also result in other dangers. In small cages, where chickens are crammed together, for example, they can't help but be smeared by the droppings of their cage mates. Such pathogens can spread rapidly between them, causing them to become severely ill. Sometimes they even do not get enough food and clean water which is vital for health.
Despite their prevalence in the chicken farming industry, battery cages are not the ideal habitat for chickens themselves. Chickens are living creatures and deserve to be treated kindly and respectfully. These are mostly meat chickens, raised exclusively for meat production. But, the way they are during their lives is often cruel and unfair. They are kept in conditions in which they cannot be healthy. Now, raising chickens a better way would be to let them move around and generally make their lives better, surprisingly it doesn't cost that much more. You may ask yourself: is it worth saving a few bucks on chicken only to have the animals receive no care, and to suffer in the process?
Chicken farming industry also does not speak to how they should treat animals as much as they should. Chickens raised inside battery cages, for instance, never feel warm sun on their feathers, never breathe in crisp air. It’s unlikely that their cells will see natural daylight, either, which is important to their well-being. It’s just sad to imagine such a better life for these chickens if they were given a shot. Many of us appreciate simple pleasures, sun shine and fresh air, but these chickens are not even able to experience that.
Hemei is among the largest chicken and poultry producers in the world and we have a deep commitment to animal welfare. We ethical chicken keepers so because it is the right thing to do, raising happy, healthy chickens. This is not only good for the animals, but is good business as well. Because we want to provide quality meat that people can trust, we always treat our chickens with the care and respect they deserve. We take pride in our chickens and realize that we are responsible for providing them with the best quality of life rather than the cheapest and easiest way to produce chicken like other companies. We want to set the tone for the industry, which needs to do better when it comes to animal welfare.