Jamie11 - I am an intensive chicken producer - for meat, not eggs. Meat birds have never, ever been kept in cages in this country, and I am not that keen on the idea.

However, let me just put the record straight. The cages are not the size of A4, they are much bigger than that.

Unless we all turn vegetarian, we have got to remember that the idealist's idea of having all birds free range is totally impossible. We are heading into a very serious world food shortage situation because the world population is increasing by 80 million a year and the land are is dissappearing under concrete.

Just as an example, if all meat birds grown in this country at present were kept as organic, we would need about 3.5 million acres of land to keep them on. Their main ingredient in their feed is wheat which at present takes up 5 million acres. Because organic wheat which would be needed to feed organic chicken only yields half as much as commercial wheat, we would need 10 million acres to grow it on.

Free range has a similar problem, but not as extreme.

The land just isn't there. It is an impossible situation!

Pete

We might all be forced into being vegetarians as the demand for land increases, because much as most of us like to eat meat, the conversion rate through a chicken is about 1.75:1. In other words, they have to eat 1.75 kilos to produce a kilo of meat. With sheep and cattle its more like 6 or 8:1. So chicken is a very efficient converter and being a white meat is probably better for you.

However, the customer is king and he or she will decide by what they buy as to what the farmer is required to produce. A few people expressing their views as to what they think people should eat will not be the deciding factor.

Its the same as farmers (like myself) having a buy british slogan on the back of their Mitsubishi. You cannot tell people what they should do, its an insult to them.

Am I right in thinking that it was Friendly Old Colonel Sanders that invented battery farming so he could flog more of those 3 piece dinners?

chixgbsdg wrote:

People are gullible and will believe the media - Goodness knows why!!!

you're not saying anything to convince me otherwise chixgbsdg.

Your comment about chickens liking it inside because it's warm and they're originally jungle fowl, had me hooting with laughter!  That really was clutching at straws.

chixgbsdg wrote:

There are lots of times in this country when conditions inside are far more preferable, especially if you can't put a jacket on. Remember, chickens are jungle fowl. They don't like being cold.

chickens LOVE being outside, mine are at the moment with their feathery bloomers blowing the wind.  The only way to get them back in is with their favourite treat.

They don't have coats but they have feathery duvets to keep them warm.

chixgbsdg wrote:

Poet - I keep saying, I must get off this computer, but its addictive!

You comment that my comment about chickens being jungle fowl is laughable. Check out this as written on this site www.poultrymad.co.uk/chicken-facts/index.html

ORIGINS OF CHICKENS

From their origins in Southwest Asia chickens have spread to all corners of the world due in a great part to their usefulness to man.

Charles Darwin considered that all chickens as being descendants of a single wild species, the red jungle fowl, Gallus Bankiva, which is found in a wild state from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines.

Apologies will be accepted!!

I say again, my girls adore being outside and they have that choice, they can go inside or stay outside as they wish.  They usually choose to be dirty stop outs!