A Chicken and Egg Situation
Most people try to live their lives without causing harm or suffering to other beings. Yet, some of the things we do as we go about our daily lives actually harm others and the environment. We may do this knowingly out of convenience or laziness, or unknowingly out of ignorance.
One of the most common actions which cause tremendous harm and pain to other beings is the consumption of battery farmed eggs. The article below, written by an animal welfare group, reveals the horrors of egg farming, highlighting the suffering hens have to endure while living in a battery farm.
In addition, let’s also not forget the millions of male chicks that are culled periodically at these farms, for they are of no use in egg production.
There are so many ways to manage our diet without causing harm or pain to others. I have blogged many vegan recipes which are delicious and easy to prepare. I strongly encourage everyone to adopt more compassionate eating habits. Start it on your own or if you want to add a dash of spirituality, you can also contact one of Kechara’s Pastors to take an official vegetarian vow.
Please read and share this with others. The suffering of these animals can end, and it begins with you. Never harm animals in any way. Thank you so much.
Tsem Rinpoche
5 Photos Taken by Our Team That Will Make You Rethink Eating Eggs
Animal Equality has carried out several investigations into egg farms. These are some of the most shocking images taken from inside these facilities.
Over 300 million hens are used and killed each year for their eggs. Due to the fact that the egg industry hides its practices, many people may think that eating eggs doesn’t imply cruelty, but nothing could be further from the truth. This album will help us understand the nightmare these delicate and innocent animals endure.
1. Debeaking
When hens are just a few days old, a large portion of their beak is cut off with a hot blade. This is an extremely painful procedure, done while the animal is fully conscious. Many animals suffer from pain due to debeaking during the two years they spend in a farm.
2. Living Amongst Dirt
Hens are not only crammed together, they also live amongst ammonia and feces as the birds feces fall through the piles of cages and land on top of other birds. The cages and sheds are filthy. This is an environment where disease and death is rampant.
3. Crammed for Life
Hens are kept in spaces so tiny they can barely move. These animals never see the light of day or breathe fresh air. In a factory farm a hens life is completely artificial, the light and feeding times are controlled so the animal will produce as many eggs as possible.
Due to the horrific conditions, many birds go completely featherless, break their bones and die in the cages. When an animal dies, many times, her body rots in the cage while the rest of the birds try their best to survive. Hens will live in these conditions for two years, after that they will violently be pulled out of the cage and sent to slaughter where they will be killed while fully conscious.
In nature hens enjoy sunbathing and dust baths. Hens are social and curious animals that take care of their babies. Making them live in such unnatural conditions is cruel.
4. Death
Some hens are so sick and exhausted that they die before being sent to slaughter. During our investigations we were able to take dozens of photos like the one below and report that no veterinary treatment is ever given to sick and dying animals.
5. There is Hope
This beautiful hen was rescued by Animal Equality from a factory farm. When we rescued her she was completely de-feathered, she had never felt the grass or the sun on her body. She now lives in a caring and loving home.
She is an example of how much these animals need us. Please keep eggs out of your diet. It’s easy, healthy and saves lives! You can also download our vegan guide now.
[Source: http://www.animalequality.net/node/727]
For more information about animal cruelty and how we can be kind to other sentient beings:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism
And for ideas on how you can practise a diet of loving kindness and go vegetarian:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/food-recipes
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Thanks for the sharing, the truth revealed many people might not be aware of what really happens in chicken industries. An unhealthy process of industries that does not meet the standards. Farms have become factories and the animals inside these unsanitary factories are tortured for the purpose of food production.
The chick struggles against the egg. It needs this struggle to gather strength for life. All that I can do is to consider to give up eating egg.
Your Next Meal!
Yummy? Tasty? Behind the scenes of the meat on your plates. Meat is a killing industry.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1559986650.mp4
This is Daw
This is what they do to get meat on tables, and to produce belts and jackets. Think twice before your next purchase.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1559986627.mp4
Don’t Take My Mummy Away!
Look at the poor baby chasing after the mother. Why do we do that to them? It’s time to seriously think about our choices in life and how they affect others. Be kind. Don’t break up families.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1559986609.mp4
They do this every day!
This is how they are being treated every day of their lives. Please do something to stop the brutality. Listen to their cries for help!
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1559986591.mp4
What happened at Fair Oaks Farm?
The largest undercover dairy investigation of all time. See what they found out at Fair Oaks Farm.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1559988165.mp4
It is heartbreaking to see the living conditions of these hens in factory farms. We should spend a bit more money and get free range eggs as the animals have healtier conditions.
It might not be easy to swap and become vegan and leave all the animal products out of our diet but we can invest in eggs that are coming from a farm that does not abuse animals for profit.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Looking at those few photos i could imagine ,those chickens had suffered
so much pain,is the consumption of battery farmed eggs. Its good to be on vegetarian so as to less killing of live stocks and eggs onto our plates The egg industry hides its practices, no one knows about the cruelty till they saw it with own eyes and that many people might think twice of eating farmed eggs.The hens were crammed in small dirty cages… so sick and exhausted.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
So much pain and torturing inflicted on the poor animals to satisfy our demand for eggs. I hope this article creates the awareness for all of us to rethink our diet and find alternatives to replace eggs. Getting free range eggs or “kampung” eggs is a slightly better idea as long as we are assured that the farm that produces these eggs provide the free range / “kampung” condition for the chicken. The best idea is to omit egg from our diet completely. Thank you, Rinpoche for this sharing.
Being vegan is definitely the kinder diet.
It is really sad to see that even something like an egg may look innocent and guilt free and yet when we actually go behind the scenes and see the process in which our eggs come from, it comes as a huge shock as even I myself did not expect the chickens to have to go through such a painful process right from when they are 2 years old till the time when they are no longer of use and are then killed.
I am glad to here that Animal Equality has managed to gather evidence of such cruel practices as it will help to create awareness to the rest of the world and it will hopefully see a dramatic reduction in the sales of eggs.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post.
It is really sad to see that our eggs come from tortured chickens.
We have to know that there are tricks for almost everything, Example for plants people sometimes use pesticide to chase away insects, but most of the time the pesticides don’t torment the pest. In this case the chickens are tormented in such a inhumane way, that it got me thinking if i live in the year 2015 or the year 1415.
This world is so civilized now but yet, chicken farms are acting as if this was the old ages when just about no one was civilized.
Surely there must be a more humane and kind way to get the eggs without causing any suffering to the chickens.
I hope that people will stop buying eggs, until people stop torturing the chickens.
Wow Pavara I like your comment, how you think and rationale behind this post! If you at age 13 now can think like this, then imagine if everyone were made aware how their eggs come from! I am sure many more would opt for an alternative option. We are so spoiled for choice these days, we can easily but free range eggs or use egg replacement ingredients in our cooking. So we really do not have any good excuse why we still continue support this cruel industry. If only all meat and egg products show their customers how their produce are being produced… I am sure the meat business industry will reduce dramatically!
Thank You Your Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for this reminder. _()_