I am not sure if you would agree with me, but when it comes to eggs, I buy free range.
The other day, I listened to a talk about about this topic and was horrified to hear that in some countries, there is a drive to discourage the consumer from buying free range eggs - saying that the healthier option is "cage eggs".
The egg cartons are labelled in big letters Cage Eggs.
Well, if people could see how these hens are kept caged 24/7 I think they would be horrified - it is just plain cruel.
This brings me to the story about Henny Penny.
Some years ago, I visited one of these mass producing chicken farms and purchased one of their chickens as a pet for the kids.
Back at home, Henny Penny - named by the kids, was put out in the garden with a chicken coop close by and we all stood and watched to see how she would like her new freedom.
What we saw was so incredibly sad - she just sat on the ground in the exact spot where we had put her - she did not know how to stand up and walk as she had been caged all her life.
I felt so angry and sad.
After a day or two, there was much jubilation - Henny Penny stood up for the first time and took a few steps.
From there on, she started to scratch around the garden as her strength returned.
It brought tears to my eyes to see this.
As time went by, she became very tame and would come to the kitchen door for some tasty snacks.
Every day, she would lay one egg - the best eggs ever!
This whole experience was a huge lesson for my children to see and I know that they will never forget it.
So, yes I will always only buy free range eggs from farms that allow their chickens to be truly free range!!
