Better off caged

By Dave Schaefer

Published on Monday, April 3, 2006

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To the Editor:

Cage-free chicken eggs sound liberating, romantic and very organic. Please keep in mind the following:

First, cage-free chickens can be defined as a chicken that goes outside the coop for as little as 10 seconds and then goes back inside the coop to do its business. This is from a local chicken grower.

Second, the spread of bird flu to the United States most likely will come in on migratory birds from Asia or elsewhere. Most susceptible will be chickens and other birds that spend their time outdoors. Chickens which live inside will be much less susceptible to the spread of bird flu. Cage-free eggs sound great, but involve dangerous perils for us to consider.