Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Spondylitis is emerging in broilers

but Sussex are so much healthier than the broilers, wouldn't you say? (they're such lovely chickens! I had a pair of them, sweethearts both, even the rooster). I mean, those broilers are so severely treated and inbred *shudder* poor things! Are Sussex used for meat or eggs over there? eggs here.

Poor chicken, you know it is in a lot of pain. Makes me want to adopt it as a mascot for bad days. I could use it today. Do people actually eat chickens that come out like that? Can that bacteria be passed down the line? I mean an average person wakes up after a night with the Col. and needs a cane to go to the bathroom. What? That is not a good thought, and if an AS person ate that chicken? Man that just sounds bad. I don't think I like chickens anymore. I feel bad enough already without eating some AS bacteria laced chicken for lunch. Chicken McFusion!
alan

Bridget: Yes, Sussex are lovely chickens, great temperaments. Over here, used mainly for the table! French will buy em at point of lay, keep em for a few months, then they go for the table... Myself and chums keep for pleasure and for eggs. Joanna and her pal were both buried by their owner. We are very sad about it.

People here also keep rabbits the same way. Buy live from the market, keep for a few months then they go for the table. These are 'not' show rabbits, but ordinary wild type. They are kept in reaal nasty small cages - find the cages on most French properties in the country. One inherits the cages... TG there was nowt like that to inherit on my property - if there had been I'd have filled the tiddly box spaces with flwoers!

Alan: Don't think you'll get AS from an AS chicken, AS aint sort of 'catching'...smile. In France and in *many countries, IF it 'can' be eaten, be food, then it will be eaten. Those poor beasties kept in battery conditions are used for eggs and for the table... The egg ones are only kept for about 12 months (or summat). Many people are now rescuing them, 65,000 battery chucks were rescued last year in the UK. A few over here in France are rescued from the intensive farming sector - as will the next batch be rescue chucks, by the person who just lost Joanna et al to M. Reynard.

Hate the way that animals are regarded over here - unkind.

We have one of those rabbit cages! it's long and low and has 4 compartments with little low spots in them. we went and picked it up thinking it'd be a hutch or something we could maybe use as a henhouse, but so far it's just sat and weeds have grown through the wire . . . the cages are so small, and completely wire mesh, it looks miserably uncomfortable. Gosh I can't wait until we can get a good fence up for chickens! I miss my little cluckers and my ducks. but the wild dogs around here . . . I refuse to get them until we have a dog-proof area for them. so for now they're living with my mom, and not faring too well, but we're too sick/broke to get a good fence up. Maybe I can get it going this year.

Yes, those are the exact type of rabbit cages that are found over here: nasty, and then some.

Take it out and fill it full of flowers to the memory of all poor rabbits kept in wretched circs!

Made a run for the chucks from heavy duty wire sides, plus a gate and a converted dog kennel, with a side attachment for nest boxes. Inside are three perches. The height is about 4'6", and the length about 9'. There is a sweet laurel tree near to the back wall. Planted up window boxes that hang from the fence supports - that the chucks like to try and fly onto...! and the wild birds come visiting for free rations, crapping all over the window boxes planted out with strawberries (not much hope for the strawberries, but wwe'll see!) Also have a climbing rose trained along one section of the the supports. Roses are just beginning to open.

Would love to set the chucks loose onto the garden but, goodbye garden IF I did so...will have to wait until the autumn when they can go out grubbing!