Kids' Farm at the National Zoo Deceives Children
Promotes Myth of the 'Happy Farm Animal'

On June 12, 2004, the Smithsonian's National Zoo opened its newest exhibit, Kids' Farm. With the help of a $5 million Congressional appropriation, the exhibit targets children aged three to eight with the major purpose, according to assistant curator Bob King, of letting kids "identify where some of their food comes from. "

Unlike chickens on factory farms, the chickens at Kids' Farm are given branches, nesting boxes, and outdoor access.

Despite the National Zoo's claims, the exhibit misrepresents U.S. animal agriculture and misinforms visitors. The vast majority of farmed animals in the United States live in conditions that bear no resemblance to those represented at Kids' Farm:

Kids' Farm Myth

All of the chickens at Kids' Farm are given outdoor access, branches for perching, as well as nesting boxes, leading visitors to believe such farming conditions are typical within the animal agribusiness industries.

Factory Farm Reality

98 percent of chickens in the U.S. egg industry are overcrowded in barren, wire "battery cages," while 99 percent of chickens in the U.S. meat industry are confined in barren, warehouse-like sheds.

The sign outside the chicken house misleads children into believing farmers collect eggs, when in fact, no human hand hand touches most eggs until removed from the carton by a consumer.

A sign outside of the chicken exhibit reads, "The farmer collects the eggs every day, either for food or for raising more chicks."

Factory Farm Reality

Eggs from 98 percent of laying hens in the United States are produced on automated farms and are never touched by a human hand until taken out of the carton by a consumer.

Kids' Farm Myth

The chicken exhibit sign stresses the importance of dust baths for chickens.

Factory Farm Reality

For 98 percent of egg-laying chickens in the United States, they have no ability to dust bathe, let alone flap their wings, forage, perch, or even walk.

The ducks at Kids' Farm have outdoor access which include a pond, a necessity never afforded to ducks on factory farms.

Kids' Farm Myth

The ducks at Kids' Farm live outdoors during the day and have access to a pond. The sign outside of the duck exhibit lets kids know that "ducks need water to keep their bills clean."

Factory Farm Reality

The vast majority of commercial duck farms in the United States raise ducks in sheds or solitary cages. The birds do not have any access to bodies of water.

While the sign outside the duck exhibit lets children know that ducks need water, it fails to mention that ducks on factory farms have no access to any body of water.

The two cows at Kids' Farm live in a green pasture and are brushed daily.

Factory Farm Reality

Ninety-nine percent of cows raised for beef in the United States spend months being fattened in overcrowded feedlots. In addition, they are routinely castrated and branded, both without painkiller.

What the National Zoo Can Do

If the National Zoo will not let the public know where our food really comes from by developing an honest exhibit including photographs of actual commercial farms, the next best thing would be to ditch the deception about animal agriculture and produce an honest exhibit about plant-based agriculture. This would allow kids to see where much of their food comes from without the need for hiding reality while, at the same time, encouraging kids to eat more fruits and vegetables.

What You Can Do

Please write to the National Zoo and respectfully request that it either include photos of actual commercial farms in the United States or shift Kids' Farm's focus to plant-based agriculture.

Lucy H. Spelman, Director
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008