LOOSE CHICKENS

I was a real estate agent and had gone to check out one of our listed properties. It was an egg-laying operation, a commercial facility involving thousands of caged chickens. The warehouse-like building held hundreds and hundreds of small cages, each containing two hens. The cages were so small that the chickens were unable to turn around. In front of the chickens, one conveyor belt brought feed and behind them was another belt that carried their eggs away. While the plant manager was briefing us, I noticed a dozen loose chickens and an employee following them and scattering grain.

“Do you need help catching them?” I asked. “I’m not trying to catch these birds,” he replied. “Oh no, we let these wander around. If the caged ones can’t see a few chickens living a free life, they’ll lose hope and stop laying their eggs. Without these loose chickens, the rest will just give up and die.”