Tagged: chickens

8:40am

Fri July 8, 2011
Business

Deal suspends chicken cage ballot measures

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Animal welfare groups in Oregon and Washington are shelving initiative petition drives that could have required egg producers to give hens more spacious cages.

The Humane Society of the United States says it's hatched a surprise national agreement with the egg industry for the treatment of chickens on farms. This comes as a ballot measure drive in Oregon for the 2012 election was getting started.

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2:09pm

Wed May 25, 2011
Animal Rights

Northwest lawmakers crack open egg controversy

Credit Chris Lehman / Northwest News Network

The Northwest egg industry is changing the way it houses chickens. But animal rights activists in Oregon and Washington say the change isn't going far enough.

Lawmakers in both Olympia and Salem debated the welfare of egg-laying hens this year. Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has already signed one bill. A similar measure has been approved by the Oregon Senate and is awaiting action in the House.

Regardless, opponents in both states are launching ballot initiatives aimed at giving hens even more space.

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