Undercover Story

What happened first, Dan?

“We were led into the manager’s office. It was cluttered, cramped and chaotic. Giving us both a clear idea of how the rest of the place would be run. He told us to sit down and sign some papers for ‘health and safety’ and ‘general rules’ his black beady eyes watching us as we read through. I shifted the camera further into my sock, pretending to tie my laces as my brain processed the forbidden section: ‘no cameras of any sort’. I had looked over at Travis who had already signed his paper confidently with a big S. I signed the papers too and we were then led into a small cupboard and handed dark overalls which smelt as if they hadn’t seen detergent or a washing machine- ever.”

 

 

What happened next, Travis?

“We were led outside down a muddy field which smelt of manure, to my right there was a malnourished horse, grazing on the rare grass sprouts which appeared on the dried mud now and again. We had been walking for a good fifteen minutes when we arrived at a dingy shed. I couldn’t see inside yet but I could hear the birds squawking in what I would describe as undeniable agony.  The next thing that hit me like a punch in the gut was the stench of urine as the door was flung open by a short, fat guy in dirty blue jeans and an off-white top. He appeared to not have a name but looked unusually like Homer Simpson which was probably due to the yellow nails and fingers from smoking too much. I was blinded by the bright light momentarily but then my vision was torn to the stacks of wired cages, all wire, with no base, just sharp rusty wire.

It made me think. How could this be happening but no-one else had a faint idea? The locals wouldn’t hear the squawking, they’d just see the broken sign with the slogan “Chirpy, Cheery, Yummy Free-Range Chickens.” If only they knew and they will now...  

There were about 100 birds in a cage two times the size of your computer screen, fighting, tangled and bloody.  'Homer' told us pointing to the painfully bright lights and then the food which looked slushy (more than likely due to the mixing of chicken urine and faeces with it): ‘it’s to keep the chickens eatin’, the lite makes ‘em stay awkakeinnit so they keep eatin’ and eatin’. They get even fatter coz ov da chemickals. The bigga da chicken, the betta the profit.Even if zey ‘ave no legs, heh.' He then told us to make sure that the food dispensers were working and left.

 

He didn’t say anything about cleaning them out. It was vile in there. A hell on earth. We had been in the shed for about 5 minutes and I had a bitter bird taste burning my mouth. Every breath made my stomach churn and tie in knots. It was repulsive. I turned to Dan and he looked as if he was about to be sick, camera held in his shaking hands. The chickens were probably rotting on the inside, as well as the out. If two grown men couldn’t stand being in a shed of this size, how was it possible for a small chicken to survive for a couple of months in one of those cages? Surrounded by 99 other chickens where did they find the strength to keep fighting for survival? Some clearly didn’t survive. Dead carcasses lay in the bottom of each of the cages: trampled on by the other chickens.It was survival of the fittest but even that was relative; none of them were fit. Unfit to live. Unfit to be ‘free-range’ (as claimed.) And clearly they were unfit to be eaten.

 

I had to stay strong and so took the camera out of Dans' shaking hands, making sure to get as many pictures as possible. This place needed to be known about. The British public shouldn’t be fooled any more. This UK farming industry wouldn’t be trusted as far as you could throw their featured victims, not that you’d be able to throw them far in this cooped up shed.”

The UK farm they busted is one of thousands that distribute to main grocery stores. If you navigate our page, you’ll find even more disturbing images and facts. Click here for the email if you feel the need to complain further, which we strongly encourage you to do. The more complaints they receive the further the case will go, and the further the case goes the stronger the force to stop these cruel ‘free-range’ farms. There is a petition to be signed too which you can find here.

‘Save the Chickens’ is a donation-based organisation which has saved over 2 million chickens over a 3 year period. Some of the chickens are given to our loyal donators to care for and love (which we get regular updates from- you can find out about them here.) Others run free on our field, happy.

This has only been successful due to our loyal support system and one off donations we receive. If this article stirred the desire to make you want to help with this change then do not hesitate to make a donation whether it be by phone (0809764448), post (Save the Chickens, London, PO BOX 54A.) Or online here.

Also you can follow us on twitter @savethechickens for direct updates.

Thank you for your time,

-Save the Chickens team.