“Most people are 4 generations away from the family farm, so information about farming and animal husbandry is gleaned from social media and the internet. It means that 98% of the population dictates acceptable animal welfare standards and protocols and policies when not directly involved in growing food or raising animals. Not coming from a breeding background like my husband, I didn’t fully grasp these issues until I was immersed in them.
Watching our newly hatched chicks arrive, taking care of them, making sure they have enough food and water, and that they have the perfect environment in which to grow and thrive so that we can provide healthy and affordable food to the consumer is our top priority as farmers. The health of our birds is just as important as that of our children because our birds are like our children. When our children are not well, I do a little “treatment sheet”, when they receive medicine, how much they are given, etc. It is the same for our birds. These practices ensure that we are proactively respond to the welfare of our birds by providing them with the care and commitment that we would give to our own family.”
–Ryan and Rachel Rhodes