When is International Respect for Chickens Day? May!
May is International Respect for Chickens Month!
May 4 is International Respect for Chickens Day.
What is this holiday about?
This holiday is about promoting the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl- This holiday is entitled "respect for chickens" but this holiday honors all domestic fowls such as ducks, birds and turkeys-
The (UPC) website states "We hold that the treatment of these birds in the areas of food production, science, education, entertainment, and humane companionship situations has a significant effect upon human, animal, and environmental welfare. We seek to make the public aware of the ways in which poultry are used, and to promote the benefits of a
Origin of this Holiday
United Poultry Concerns Honors International Respect for Chickens Day!
United Poultry Concerns (UPC) launched International Respect for Chickens Day in 2005 to celebrate chickens and protest against the bleakness of their lives in farming operations. People are urged to do an "Action" for chickens on or around May 4-
To learn more about International Respect for Chickens Day and Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs, go to www.upc-online.org.
Please Do an "Action" for chickens in May-
- Have a Respect for Chickens Day celebration at your school-
- Give out Leaflet at a busy street corner/ your local university-
- Have a We-Don’t-Eat-Our-Feathered-Friends Vegan Party!
- Have a movie night! Show Chicken Run!!!
If you would like to support their work. To learn more, please contact:
United Poultry Concerns
PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405 USA
Phone: (757) 678-7875
Email: Info@upc-online.org
We found recognition about this holiday from:
Calendar sites, animal sites, nature sites and personal Internet sites that blog and share information about this holiday.
_____________________________________________________________________
About Chickens: by wikipedia
"Chickens in nature may live for five to eleven years depending on the breed. In commercial intensive farming, a meat Chicken generally lives only six weeks before slaughter. A free range or organic meat chicken will usually be slaughtered at about 14 weeks. Hens of special laying breeds may produce as many as 300 eggs a year. After 12 months, the hen's egg-laying ability starts to decline, and commercial laying hens are then slaughtered and used in baby foods, pet foods, pies and other processed foods. The world's oldest chicken, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, died of heart failure when she was 16 years old."
Humane treatment
"Animal welfare groups have frequently targeted the poultry industry for engaging in practices which they believe to be inhumane. Many animal rights advocates object to killing chickens for food, the "factory farm conditions" under which they are raised, methods of transport, and slaughter. PETA and other groups have repeatedly conducted undercover investigations at chicken farms and slaughterhouses which they allege confirm their claims of cruelty."
"Laying hens are routinely debeaked to prevent fighting. Because beaks are sensitive, trimming them without anaesthesia is considered inhumane by some. It is also argued that the procedure causes life-long discomfort. Conditions in intensive chicken farms may be unsanitary, allowing the proliferation of diseases such as salmonella and E coli. Chickens may be raised in total darkness. Rough handling and crowded transport during various weather conditions and the failure of existing stunning systems to render the birds unconscious before slaughter have also been cited as welfare concerns."
"Another animal welfare concern is the use of selective breeding to create heavy, large-breasted birds, which can lead to crippling leg disorders and heart failure for some of the birds. Concerns have been raised that companies growing single varieties of birds for eggs or meat are increasing their susceptibility to disease."
"Some groups who advocate for more humane treatment of chickens, claim that they are intelligent. Dr. Chris Evans of Macquarie University claims that their range of 20 calls, problem solving skills, use of representational signalling, and the ability to recognize each other by facial features demonstrate the intelligence of chickens."
• In 2004, 8.9 billion chickens were slaughtered in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
Related Observances:
Campaigning to end animal experiments: National Cruelty-Free Week) National Cruelty-Free Week is an event in the United Kingdom every year arranged by the BUAV. (see wikipidia) The 2006 event was from 17-23 July. Other, similar, events include:
• National Vegetarian Week, UK Vegan Week and World Vegan Day which takes place each year on November 1.
This topic has related categories:
Chickens can make good companion animals
and can be tamed by hand feeding, but roosters can sometimes become aggressive and noisy. Some have advised against keeping them around very young children. Some people find chickens' behaviour entertaining and educational.
While some cities in the United States allow chickens as pets, the practice is not approved in all localities. Some communities ban only roosters, allowing the quieter hens."