Vet Says Being Outdoors Is Unhealthy for Chickens

James Barton, a veterinarian with the American Association of Avian Pathologists, claims that raising chickens indoors is healthier for them (pdf): "Exposure to insects and earthworms can facilitate the transfer of internal and external parasites ... as well as bacterial and viral infections."

In addition to protecting chickens from the Great Outdoors, Dr. Barton also advocates for beak trimming, and says that packing more chickens into barns is good for the birds and the environment, since their body heat will keep them comfortable in cold weather and save on heating bills. Nevermind sanitation and freedom to move around.

These are some of the concerns that he raised to the Livestock Committee of the National Organic Standards Board last year, in a letter which he concluded by saying that the animal welfare standards proposed for organic agriculture leave "too much potential for abuse and mistreatment of animals." Because animals won't be abused if they're safely tucked away in their battery cages, right?

The housing of chickens, particularly the debate over giving them access to the outdoors, is one of the controversial issues on the table at the October 25th meeting of the National Organic Standards Board.

Lobbyist Steve Kopperud believes the NOSB's animal welfare standards are just a way "to try and play to the Whole Foods crowd." As if consumers shouldn't have any say in how their food is produced and labeled?

Kopperud, Barton, and other Big Ag players say that organic standards should only regulate the presence of man-made chemicals, and the welfare of the animals should be left out of the equation. Considering the animals makes it harder for factory farms to cram animals into a shed, keep them off drugs and then slap a shiny "organic" label on their products and charge higher prices.

A recent report by the Cornucopia Institute highlights how industrial farms are using the organic label while flagrantly violating all notions of animal welfare. For instance, they qualify inaccessible dirt patches and "chicken porches" as outdoor access, and want to give the birds even less. "We are strongly opposed to any requirement for hens to access to the soil," said Kurt Kreher of Kreher's Sunrise Farms.

That doesn't sit well with "the Whole Foods crowd," or most other consumers. If you thought "organic" implied a more natural process on the farm, not just the absence of chemicals, you're not alone. The Livestock Committee of the National Organic Standards Board says (pdf): "Animal welfare is a basic principle of organic production ... From its conception, regulation in organic agriculture was intended to provide conditions that foster the natural behavior of livestock."

Natural behavior means access to sunshine, fresh air and dirt, and taking your chances with the parasites and viruses that come with it. The new guidelines would mandates minimum outdoor square footage per chicken, as well as accessibility.

The Livestock Committee also doesn't seem to buy into Barton's theory that the benefit of body heat outweighs all the other problems with raising large flocks indoors. Their document for the upcoming meeting states: "The less space provided per animal the more labor intensive it may be to keep them clean and in good health."

Consumers want the organic label to mean something — for their health, for the environment and for the animals, but Big Ag and their lobbyists won't go quietly. Don't let them define "organic" by cruel factory farm standards.

Photo credit: Katie@!