The Investigation

In April and May of 2002, Compassion Over Killing (COK) investigators made multiple trips to County Fair Farms (CFF), a commercial egg farm located at 695 Bachmans Valley Rd., Westminster, Md.

Using video and still cameras, the investigators documented numerous cases of neglect and animal cruelty. Of course, virtually all hens forced to live in battery cages endure severe physical and psychological stress. However, as has been found during similar investigations in Maryland, Ohio, and Minnesota, battery-cage existence inherently comes with numerous problems aside from the obvious intense overcrowding, lack of fresh air, or sunlight.

Each of these investigations has found:

• Countless dead hens in cages with live hens.
• Hens stuck in the wires of their cages, dying from dehydration, immobilized just inches from water.
• Hens with serious infections, growths, prolapsed rectums, and other health problems.
• Hens suffering from massive feather-loss.

Indeed, egregious cruelty is an industry-wide problem.

On May 23, 2002, on the one-year anniversary of the open rescue of eight hens from ISE-America's egg farm in Cecilton, Md., the COK investigators openly rescued ten hens from CFF who were in desperate need of immediate veterinary care. The ten hens are now living in a virtual paradise compared to battery-cage existence. Unfortunately, approximately 275 million laying hens remain in U.S. battery cages at any given moment.

CFF is not an isolated case. Its practices are industry-wide. Approximately 95 percent of eggs in the United States come from hens confined in battery cages. Please take a few minutes to look through the photo gallery from this investigation and think about whether eating eggs is worth causing so much suffering.

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