Recently I went to visit my grand-parents in Coldwater, OH. While I was there my grandmother told me that she had a friend who had a small farm, with several hundred chickens on it. However, what she told me next was shocking.

The chickens go to her at about half-a-year old, the average laying age. She then raises the chickens and sends the eggs to the people who own the chickens, or sell them. After about a year of this, the owners tell her to gas the chickens. The chickens die slowly and painfully in a gas room with thousands of other chickens.

I was shocked and sad to hear this. Chickens are very sweet animals and hens never really stop laying eggs. After about 7 or so years, they may start to lay slightly fewer eggs, but they keep laying for a very very long time. Also, and saying this as a vegetarian, gassing chickens sends chemicals into their bodies that stops the meat from being able to feed people. If these hens have to die at such an early age (or killed by us at all), then they should at least be feeding somebody. Please help me to stop this sad, horrible, and unneccesary practice.