(From previous page)

She has the tip of her beak cut off with a red hot blade - she screams and sometimes dies of shock.

She never sees the sky

She never stretches her wings

She never feels the earth underfoot

She is bred, lives and dies as an inanimate object.

Have we the right to inflict this suffering on any living creature?

Mrs Dorothy Morris, NZAVS member from Otago has made a study of hens with chicks and writes.

"Hens with chicks are happy and full of life and courage. Caught in a sudden rainstorm, instead of seeking shelter for herself the hen sits with her back to the wind and covers the chicks with her wings until the shower is over. No intruder is too big to be attacked in defence of the chicks. When not sandbathing, or basking in the sun, the chicks stand in an expectant circle waiting to see what mother will dig up in the way of tid-bits. Earthworms are a favourite. One chick will seize it and run with the worm, the other chicks in hot pursuit. As soon as they are old enough mother teaches the more adventurous chicks to roost at night while the timid huddle together in the box and plead with her to return. Eventually all are roosting under mother's protective wings and beak."