freelyseemsanabsoluteminimumnecessarytoprotectthem
from an intolerabledegree ofconfinement thatfrustratesa
very basic urge. Somay weassume thatpoultry cagesin
Britainmust atleast belargeenoughto givethebirdsthis
minimal freedom?No. Thesubsectionquotedabove hasa
short but significant proviso attached to it:
Provided that this subsection shall not apply to poultry ...
This amazing proviso testifies to the relative strength of
desires that emanate from the stomach and those that are
based on
compassioninacountrythathasareputationforkindnessto
animals. Nothing in the nature of those birds we call
“poultry”makesthemlessdesirousofstretchingtheirwings
thanotherbirds.Theonlyconclusionwecandrawisthatthe
membersoftheBritishParliamentareagainstcrueltyexcept
when it produces their breakfast.
ThereisacloseparalleltothisintheUnitedStates.Underthe
Animal Welfare Act of 1970 and subsequent revisions,
standards have been set requiring cages for animals to
“provide sufficient space to allow each animal to make
normal postural and social adjustments with adequate
freedom ofmovement.” This act appliesto zoos, circuses,
wholesale petdealers, and laboratories,but not to animals
being reared for food.^35
Sohowdocagesforlayinghensmeasureupbytheminimal
standardsetforbirdsingeneral?Toanswerthisquestionwe
needtoknowthatthewingspanofthemostcommontypeof
hen averages around thirty inches. Cage sizes vary, but
according toPoultry Tribune,