S
tandards differ. In the UK,
regulations require free-range
poultry to have access to the outside
during daylight hours via ‘popholes’.
Each bird needs to have at least 4m^2
of outside space. The indoor barn
where the birds perch and lay eggs
can have up to nine birds per squaremetre. EU organic standards require
lower densities of six birds per
square metre in the barns, and
maximum flock numbers of 3,000
birds. Under certain organic
standards, beak trimming is not
permitted, but this is allowed with
free-range hens.How free-range are free-range
chickens? Emma Butcher, Randburg
Most of us are happy with our voice until we hear it
recorded. One reason is that our recorded voice
sounds higher pitched than we’re used to. This is
because we usually hear our voice, in part, as it’s
conducted through the bones in our head, which makes
it sound deeper. Another reason is that when we hear a
recording of our voice, we scrutinise ourselves as we
would others, and we’re surprised and discomfited by
just how much (we think) we’re giving away in terms of
our personality.Why do we hate the
sound of our own voices?
Alex Khoza, Soweto- OIL PRICES
SKYROCKET
Half the world’s oil is
transported by sea. With the
shipping lanes frozen over, the
international oil market would
see drastically restricted
supply, just when oil is needed
more than ever for heating. This
would trigger global economic
collapse, leading to martial law
in many countries. - FOOD CHAIN COLLAPSE
The layer of ice over the oceans
would block out most of the light
in the surface water. This would
kill off marine algae, and the
effects would ripple up the food
chain until the oceans were
almost sterile. Only deep-sea
organisms living around
hydrothermal vents would
survive. - PLANTS DIE
Ice reflects more sunlight than
water, so the global climate
would cool drastically, freezing
the land as well. Plants would
die from lack of water, resulting
in less CO 2 absorption, so CO 2
from volcanoes would slowly
build up in the atmosphere and
warm the planet back up – but it
could take millions of years to
thaw the ice. - IT’S HAPPENED BEFORE
Geological evidence suggests
the oceans may have frozen at
least twice before. The last time
was around 650 million years
ago. Enough single-celled
organisms survived that event to
repopulate the Earth, but the
fossil record isn’t good enough
to tell if there were other,
multicellular life forms that
weren’t so lucky.
What would happen if... the ocean froze over?
A In South Africa, a
minimum period of
eight hours
continuous darkness
per 24-hour cycle
must be allowed for.
A In addition, shade
outside of the
laying area must
include 4m^2 per
1,000 birds, whether
that is provided by
trees or shrubs or
some sort of artificial
structure.Q
&
A
FLASH