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No Vet in Sight

Sickness and disease are inherent problems on factory farms where birds are forced to live in filth and extreme confinement. In an attempt to minimize costs, and maximize profits, even the sickest of hens are denied veterinary care. Investigators documented many hens left to die an agonizingly slow death from illness and injury.

MFA’s investigation uncovered many hens suffering from terrible eye and sinus infections. These injures were likely caused by the saturated filth of the atmosphere in which the hens were forced to live. High concentrations of ammonia can lead to various inflammations and compromised immune systems. This was compounded by the high concentration of dust and debris that filled the air. Many of the lesions were obviously chronic, which is, once again, evidence that there are completely inadequate inspections of the hens.

Other hens at Weaver Bros. Egg Farm appeared to be suffering from the infectious disease known as facial cellulitis. Facial cellulitis is common in battery-caged hens used in commercial egg production and in all poultry confinement situations involving crowding, inadequate ventilation, and poor management, i.e. a dirty, ammoniated, pathogen-ridden environment. The hen’s face puffs out as a result of swelling of the layers of cellular tissue beneath facial skin that has been injured by cuts or scratches.

“These hens may have both viral and bacterial disease. Mixed viral and secondary bacterial infections brought about by the unhygienic living conditions to which the hens are subjected are a strong possibility in this production facility. Not only do the various disease states cause stress to the individual hen, some components of the diseases are likely contagious.” --Dr. Meg J. Baho, DVM

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