Ducks & Geese
Ducks and Geese originate from the same class (Aves) and family (Anatidae). Ducks and Geese are adept in water, on the land and in the skies. They can often be seen bobbing on a lake or river almost anywhere in the world.
Ducks and Geese are perfect examples of team work amongst animals, the fly and swim in a formations, Ducks live in lose knit groups whereas Geese mate for life.
Geese exclusively eat vegetation like crops, Ducks have specially adapted beaks that are wide and flat and enable them to eat grasses, grains, fish and insects. Some Ducks and geese are migratory. Australian ducks have been known to seek out temporary lakes and pools caused by local rainfall.
What's Happened to Britains Favourite Birds?
When thinking about slaughtered animals, Ducks and Geese are not the first animals that spring to mind. However, they are one of the worse treated. Last year, an average of 20 million Ducks and geese were slaughtered in the UK alone for human consumption.
They are forced to live inside Broiler sheds that have been designed for chickens.
The breeding birds are tricked into believing it is the breeding season all years round using lighting tricks. One ducklings are born they are taken to the broiler sheds to live out their pathetically short lives. The broiler sheds house thousands and thousands of birds. Many may house up to 100,000. The damp concrete floors are covered with woodshavings or litter, that soon fill up with excrement and ammonia, it is not cleaned until the batch of birds have gone for slaughter and a new batch is to be brought in. The birds grow unnaturally rapid and pretty soon they only have a space smaller than an A4 piece of paper each.
CAUTION: TRUTHFUL PICTURES BELOW
The ducks and geese are fed chemicals that make them grow at a shocking and alarming rate. The become too heavy for the frail baby bones and often lay crippled in the muck on the floor. There, they will be trampled to death. If dehydration and starvation doesn't liberate them first. Inside the broiler sheds, the ducks cannot even reach water to bathe themselves.
The ducks are ready for slaughter after a measly seven weeks. Their average lifespan is 10 years! They have been pumped full of antibiotics in order to prolong their lives through illness. They are taken to the slaughterhouse where they are supposed to be stunned by having their heads dragged through a stream of water containing an electrical charge. In most cases, the 'stream' of water is just a dribble and thousands of these birds have their throats slit alive and fully conscious.
The truth behind the delicacy that is Foie Gras
We've all heard of it, maybe some have even tasted it... but what is it?
Foie Gras is the 'fatty liver' of the duck or goose. The liver is diseased and classed as a delicacy. The duck or Goose has a hard plastic tube inserted into their throats three times a day. 2lbs of grain is then forced down the tube and pumped into their stomach. They have no choice. When their liver is ready, they are slaughtered and have it gouged out.
STOP PRETENDING THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!
It is not too late to start saving lives.
Any questions or comments?
Drop me an email on helpsavelives@tiscali.co.uk