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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be angry with people who do not buy free range eggs?

646 replies

ohnoudidnt · 08/04/2011 19:58

I know that they cost more, but surely it is worth the extra to know the bird has had a better standard of living.

OP posts:
TheSecondComing · 09/04/2011 09:39

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nokissymum · 09/04/2011 09:50

i can afford free range, i just dont buy them. I prefer to save my pennies and donate it to causes a bit higher up the scale.

muminthecity · 09/04/2011 09:52

Free range eggs cost the same as the crap ones in my local shop. I always buy free range but I'm not particularly fussed what others choose to do. Oh and if I had to choose between free range eggs or the internet (in what bizarre world do people make such choices anyway?!) then I'd choose the internet.

Original poster
ohnoudidnt · 09/04/2011 09:57

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows...

I probably unknowingly pick up products that contains battery eggs too...but when it comes to eggs / meat it does make it pretty clear...and surely it is better to start somewhere.

TheSecondComing ...

I find your views very strange.Think I would also pass if ever offered a cup of tea at your house..you sound revolting.

OP posts:
buttonmooncup · 09/04/2011 09:58

revolting??? nice!

chocolatecoveredlissielou · 09/04/2011 10:07

I really don't give a shit if that offends people who think the low-income people should wear hair shirts and eat mung beans and freeze in the dark to appease principles that aren't theirs.

and ohno, i think you sound pretty revolting tbh.

LilyBolero · 09/04/2011 10:08

Intensive farming is the root of many ills - look at the BSE story. Having seen pictures of battery hens using dead hens as nests to lay their eggs in was enough to convince me never ever to buy battery eggs.

But I try and avoid as much intensively farmed food as possible, we are lucky enough to have space for hens so we have our own eggs.

We do find meat very expensive though, so I try and buy free range/organic meat, but less of it, (probably only once or twice a week) and make up with pulses etc.

Everyone's situation is different, but in the case of battery hens I take the long view, as if enough people refused to buy them, the industry would have to change, and free range would ultimately become cheaper.

computermouse · 09/04/2011 10:09

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expatinscotland · 09/04/2011 10:09

Come on over, TSC! I'll get the kettle on. I'll bake us a cake with eggs from teh farm down the road because they are a quid for 6. I don't know if if they're 'free range' or not but my cakes taste good! Bring your hair shirts and I'll supply the whips so we can atone properly.

usualsuspect · 09/04/2011 10:10

free range eggs or internet?

I'll take the internet

gorionine · 09/04/2011 10:16

Why revolting? From what I have read of TheSecondComing's posts, there is definitely more "colourful" language than what I usually can take but if you think about what the actual meaning, it is far less revolting to say that people should be able to buy what they can afford than to say to just go without which is what you are saying. We are taking about basic food here, not caviar (which I very happilly go without both on unaffordability ground and non- essential ground)

Oh, just had a quick google and the plan for UK is to ban battery eggs by 2012 if possible so not banned yet as I previously thought.

TheSecondComing · 09/04/2011 10:18

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LaWeasel · 09/04/2011 10:19

computermouse - a veggie diet may be cheaper, but if you a veggie you will know that it has to be done carefully and is not suitable for all people and all circumstances. So it is unlikely to be a short term solution.

Besides eggs are veggie so it doesn't solve the can't afford to buy free range eggs problem.

You could be vegan of course, but then there are even more health implications for some people and it needs to be thought about very carefully and not suddenly implemented.

LaWeasel · 09/04/2011 10:20

equally vegetarians should all consider what fav has said about free range farming being worse for the chickens. (I am certainly considering sticking to barn eggs)

computermouse · 09/04/2011 10:22

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buttonmooncup · 09/04/2011 10:23

I think that everyone on here could do something more worthwhile with their internet money if we're going down that route. Who's going first?

altinkum · 09/04/2011 10:24

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LaWeasel · 09/04/2011 10:26

if you don't know why a vegetarian diet is not suitable for everyone you should go back and read this thread especially lissielou's posts.

gorionine · 09/04/2011 10:31

"So it is unlikely to be a short term solution.'" I think it might be the bit that computermouse did not get as I did not get it eitherBlush

LaWeasel · 09/04/2011 10:34

sorry I mistyped, I meant medium term.

Obviously you can skip meat/eggs for a couple of meals and it's not going to be that big a deal, but if you're talking about weeks of not eating them it can be a big problem for some people.

And if it's long term you can overhaul your whole diet and switch gradually. Although vegetarian diets still aren't suitable for some people at all.

gorionine · 09/04/2011 10:37

I thought you did mean it was only a shorterm solution rather than the oppositeSmile

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2011 10:44

While we are on this whole - save the planet/animal welfare lark, I hope that this is also extended to all products in the food chain including products containing palm oil ...

Yes it is important to know the source of your food, but compromises have to be made ...

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2011 10:46

here

faverolles · 09/04/2011 10:48

Battery cages as we know them are to be banned, but will be replaced with enriched cages, as I said before.

For those of you still believing free range hens live better lives, honestly, they don't. The crampedconditions and the bullying ate, if anything worse than in battery cages.
If you want to buy battery eggs, buy them. But if you are buying free range for the higher welfare, you are being lied to.

faverolles · 09/04/2011 10:49

are, not ate