Ban ‘battery cages’ for confined hens

Like a lot of hard-working Rhode Islanders, I wear many hats. I’m a farmer; I’m an artist and art teacher; I’m a volunteer. But as Mother’s Day approaches, I acknowledge that my most important (and favorite) job is being a mom. My two daughters mean the world to me, and I strive to teach them lessons that will help them become caring citizens.

Since they were born, I’ve taught my girls that animals under our care deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. This lesson is easily imparted, because they see it in action every day on our farm, Eat Me Acres, in Foster. Our Guinea hens run free and peck in the dirt for bugs. Our cows are raised on pasture, and our pigs have plenty of space to roam.

Not all farm animals are so lucky. Thousands of egg-laying chickens right here in Rhode Island are confined in “battery cages” – wire enclosures that afford each bird less than the space of an iPad to live their entire lives. These chickens suffer terribly, unable to perform important natural behaviors, like nesting or perching, that are important for their welfare. They can’t even spread their wings.

I know first-hand that chickens are smart and loving. After all, the term “mother hen” is used when we describe people who dote on others. Cramming these emotional, intelligent animals into cages that deny all their natural behaviors is simply wrong.

Our state has already recognized the necessity of passing legislation to protect our farm animals. In 2012, I testified in favor of prohibiting the cruel confinement of mother pigs and calves in cages so small they can’t turn around. Rhode Island’s legislature overwhelmingly passed that bill.

If enough space to turn around and fully extend their limbs is required for pigs and calves, there’s no reason chickens shouldn’t be given that basic protection too. Fortunately, Rep. Pat Serpa, a friend to animals and family farmers, has introduced a commonsense bill (H. 7324) that would add chickens raised for eggs to the existing law that already protects mother pigs and veal calves from abuse.

H. 7324 would improve food safety too, which, as a mom, I’m very concerned about. Egg factories keeping chickens in cage confinement systems have a higher risk of Salmonella than do cage-free barns.

A coalition of nearly 30 family farms in Rhode Island supports the effort to phase out the use of cruel cages. We’re joined in our endorsement by several dozen Rhode Island veterinarians, the Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Association, 50 local businesses, Providence Animal Rescue League and other local and national animal protection organizations.

Chickens don’t deserve to suffer in cages. On Mother’s Day, let’s speak up for mother hens by supporting Rep. Serpa’s bill that would protect them from a lifetime of cruel confinement. Call your legislators and urge them to vote yes on H. 7324. By speaking for animals who can’t speak for themselves, I’m proud of the example I’m setting for my daughters.

Denise Melucci

Foster