Where can we get real “kampung eggs”?

I was talking to two people who are in the “free-range egg” or more popularly known as “kampung egg” industry and here’s what they told me.

Apparently, according to these two people, “ayam kampung” is just a breed of chickens. They are not really free-range. The chickens are left to grow up freely until they are 6 months old, then they are also caged and made to produce eggs, which are then sold as “telur ayam kampung” or “free-range eggs”. And when they are too old to produce eggs, they are slaughtered.

I was quite horrified and asked why these eggs are advertised and marketed as “free-range eggs”. They said the chicks get to grow up freely until 6 months, hence, they are “free-range chickens”.

And of course I asked why the older chickens are slaughtered. I wanted to hear it straight from these people who are in the industry. They said it costs too much to maintain the older chickens, and it is therefore, not profitable to keep them alive.

From a totally profit-oriented viewpoint, they said it is justified.

I told them killing is never justified, whatever your argument might be. These chickens have served their so-called “master” so well, and when they are of no use anymore, they are killed?

Whither gratitude and humanity?

My friend’s father used to rear dairy cows in their farm in Kuching way back, and none of their cows are killed even when they could not produce milk anymore. They live on and pass on naturally when it is time to go. Even when one of their cows had a hoof injury and someone offered to buy the cow from them, the father refused to sell, citing, “This cow has given my 12 children milk and watched them grow up, how can I sell her?”. The cow went up to the father, lifted up her injured hoof, and tears streamed down her face.

“Oh, but this is business, do you know how much losses we would endure if we maintained those older hens?” the egg-man argued.

“On the contrary, I know how much losses you will endure if you DON’T maintain those older hens who have served you well”, I said.

He chose not to listen.

But this time I was in a predatory mood so I chose to say my piece.

I told him that that is precisely why our world is so messed-up these days. You have the 4Ps in business, but actually, you only need 3Ps, and that, according to a very successful Thai businessman who practises honesty and compassion to the hilt in running his highly successful businesses, Mr Danai Chanchaochai (do please google him), are “People, Planet, Profit” (in that order). Note that it is People (which includes the animals) and Planet (which includes the animals, the plants and the environment) who come first. Profit comes third. He says if we do not put People and Planet first in anything that we do, it will be our downfall…sooner or later.

Those who put Profit first and worse, those who justify killing for whatever reason, shall pay the price heavily…when the time comes.

So, back to my purpose of writing this post, does anyone know where we can get unfertilised REAL kampung eggs?

I was told that we can, in the small kampungs and villages in the outskirts. I guess that’s where we can see simplefolk living simple lives who practise the 3Ps in their simple businesses.

In austerity and simplicity, there lies wisdom.