Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 9/19/16

Perdue Farms has begun eliminating the practice of inserting nasal implants into roosters’ nostrils, the company said in a statement, and the animal rights group Compassion Over Killing attributed the decision to one of its campaigns.

“As part of the continuous improvement of our Animal Care program, we are in the process of eliminating the practice of inserting nasal implants … into the nostrils of male chickens in our breeder flocks,” Perdue’s statement said.

The implants are designed to enable roosters to eat feed specially formulated for them, while preventing them from eating the feed formulated for breeder hens. The company said it will have completely eliminated the process by the end of the year.

“This will give us time to finish converting the feeders used by the females and to make the changes necessary so that males and females continue to receive the appropriate feed,” the company’s statement said.

In a statement posted on its website, Compassion Over Killing noted, “After seeing our hidden camera footage (of the nasal implants being inserted), Tyson announced an immediate end to the use of “bones” in male breeder birds. … Now, following campaign efforts by COK, Perdue has stated it too will end the brutal use of “bones” by January 1, 2017.”

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