Sudokuaholics Anonymous 9A

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879677.htm

Now while I avoid chickens which have been injected with hormones (or at least I think I do), I think this is taking the argument against hormones a little too far...

Oh yes, Suzy - whilst I would never eat chicken because I know too much about the industry and breeding practices, including hormones - that is carrying it too far indeed!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879460.htm

Can you imagine how his parents felt??? What a little devil!

If you want to avoid hormones, buy them straight from a free-range farm. Don't just assume that the ones marked 'free range' in the supermarket are OK. The producers get away with that by building a pen the same size as and next to the shed and letting the chickens roam outside in the day time. But they still get the hormones etc in their feed so are technically no better! They get a 2 day old chicken and in 47 days it is huge and ready for slaughter.

Naughty little boy! I had not long ago read about his disappearance. Glad he's been found.

Cyn, you made me think of something that I have wondered about... apparently the use of hormones in the Australian chicken industry was banned more than 40 years ago, but does it happen anyway???

Posted at the same time - apparently yes!

hi all. Just reading about everyone's childhood. I don't remember getting hit by my dad but I remember my brother getting it a few times. I was the good child I have given both of my boys a swat on the bottom to get their attention. Now all I have to do is raise my hand and start the count to 3. If I get 3, they get a smack. I don't usually make it past 1 anymore.

Well, they sure use something!!
Even before we worked in the industry, I worked in bulk transport and we used to deliver loads of 'hormone' to the producers. One time, I remember hearing that a farmer made a mistake whilst preparing the feed and put too much 'hormone' in. (Note: don't read any further if you are squeamish) The 2 day olds grew so quickly that at 12-14 days they were full size but could not stand on their little legs. Of course they all had to be put down.

MizT, I will be thinking about you also. Heidi, after you speak to her, please post and let us know how she is.

Tami - the count to 3 tactic is excellent. Although to start with you have to prove to them that they will receive the threatened punishment - no TV, grounded etc - it works for me especially with Emily when she gets over excited - 1 - 2 - and she stops and calms down!

Cyn, The farmer should be put down also making those little chickens suffer.

Cyn, they have both been on the receiving end of my hand to know that I mean business. If I have to count, I will follow through and it don't matter where I am.

Tomorrow is "Take your child to work day" and both boys will be coming with me. To them it is a day off. They should have fun.

A lot of the growth in chicks is the breeding. The first generation cross between a Cornish and a Rock grows at astounding speed even without the hormones. I frequently buy day old chicks of that cross for meat and raise them myself... without hormones. They are ready for slaughter at 6 weeks old! If I want "Cornish Game Hen", I butcher at 3 weeks old. They grow so fast that they have serious heart problems, and their legs are frequently deformed. I slow down the growth a little by putting them on a lower protein feed. That helps the leg strength. But there's no point on trying to raise them for breeding because with their heart troubles, they don't live long enough to breed.

Heidi, when we were buying chicken in the US we always bought the 'brands' labelled hormone free. When we moved back to Oz I was looking for the label and ended up searching the internet. Everywhere I went it said hormones were banned and a government agency conducted checks looking for residues and didn't find them. Knowing that breeding can cause the quick growth is reassuring, or it would be if it didn't cause suffering!

One of the benefits of a slow internet connection... do some ffuts, accept a couple of gifts, catch up on reading, so some more ffuts while the computer is chugging...

Suzy and Heidi - I hope you're both right about breeding them to grow quickly but that's not what I've ever heard from the horse's (or chicken's) mouth.
And I still wonder why the product we delivered was called 'hormone growth formula' or something similar - this would have been in the '90's.

Hmmmm... I did another search this morning Cyn and it quoted government agencies finding no traces, it's all a myth etc. Yet you were delivering hormone growth formula??? How can we trust anything these days??!!

My mother firmly believes that the US government is secretly growing 6 foot tall chickens, and covering it up.

Just flying through with a G'Day

LOL Heidi, I remember my mother blaming all of the country's problems on the communists. The unions were full of them...

My mother blames all of her problems on witches. She really believes that her "enemies" hire evil witches to cast spells and curses on her.

G'Day vdV!!

Aha - now we're onto conspiracy theories. What about the big ones? That man didn't walk on the moon. (How disappointing that would be!) Elvis is alive and can be found in your local Burger King/Walmart? Area 51?
Next time I see our poultry farmer friend, I'll try to pin him down on a definate answer on hormones.

Sorry - Hi vdV!

Heidi, please tell me you are joking - she can't be that loony??? Or can she?

The websites call it a myth Cyn, but it's hard to deny labelling on the product you delivered...

I'm NOT joking. Sad to say.

That is sad Heidi.

I've just googled the current time in Alabama and it says 10.48pm Wednesday. So MizT will be in hospital mostly while we're asleep. I'll dream of you MizT!!!

MizT is an hour earlier than I am. She said that they discharge day patients at 2:30 pm, so I'll call there starting half an hour later. That'll be about 4:00 pm my time. I'll probably get Al. I expect MizT to be sleeping off the anesthesia for a day or two. Or three or four.

This has happenned one block away from my invalid mother-in-law's house. The wheel-chair bound woman who died was attacked last week, hog-tied and robbed. They're not saying much in this report but on the car radio on my way home just now, it is believed to be retaliation because police caught one of the offensive little oxygen thieves!! The police are supposedly looking for 4 young people to help with their enquiries.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/wheelchair-victims-house-burns/comments-e6freon6-1225 856798830

I'll try again - not sure if that previous link will work because I also had comments up.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/wheelchair-victims-house-burns/story-e6freon6-122585679883 0

Cyn, that is horrible. I am speechless to think that anyone could be this cold and heartless. I hope they catch them and charge them with murder. Oxygen thieves is a good word for them.

The original link didn't work but I managed to find the story anyway. Horrified.

My heart breaks for this woman and her husband.
Someone's comment on the page was 'How could someone in their right mind do this?' They are not in their right mind, and they certainly have no conscience.

We have been so worried since the first attack - so close to Col's Mum and she never locks her back screen door. She'd never be able to move fast enough and her hubby (Col's step-Dad) is half-deaf and sleeps most of the day - he's 81.
I sincerely hope they catch them.

Cyn, how awful, after reading some of the comments from local residents it would really make you worry.
Hi vdV.

Morning all ... I slept for 6 hours straight and feel better. I have my nephew coming over around lunchtime and then might grab a nap in the afternoon. Now back to reading ...

Evening all!
Done with the chauffering for the night. Thank goodness!!

Cyn, I'm guessing you can't convince your MIL to lock the door either. My mother never has and I doubt ever will. This crime is so horrible that I am sure the police will be pulling out all stops to catch the crims.

Theresa, that is a long time for you. I'm glad you feel better!