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Some questions and comments: Danu Send a noteboard - 09/11/2009 09:37:56 PM
Had a presentation from an industry poultry veterinarian. Just found this little bit interesting.

A veterinarian employed by the poultry industry will probably put a positive spin on the industry that writes his checks.

Average Size of a Chicken House: about 44 ft x 400 ft

Average number of chickens per house: about 23k

Average Chickens/sq.ft : roughly 1.5

Hmmm...see I have problems with "Averages"
On average Vermonters are less obese than the average American but that does not mean most Vermonters are not obese.

Now think how small a growing chicken is. Most chickens are taken to slaughter at between 4.5-6 lbs, so we aren't talking fully grown chickens either.

Why do the beaks have to be cut off then? Oh right. Stress

Until a very late stage of growth...that's really not that crowded at all.

Some other facts from a previous poultry industry class:

Houses are maintained at around 75 F and well ventilated to promote respiratory health and disease prevention

Steroids are NOT used in the chicken industry.

Maybe not, but have they been genetically altered to grow larger breasts? (the breast being the more preferred part of the chicken)



The industry has begun to slow the growth of the chickens and increase vit.D/Calcium intake in chicken diets to prevent bone-growth issues.

That would be because they grow so rapidly that their bones are not developed well enough to support them. Because hundreds of millions of chickens die every year before reaching slaughter weight at 6 weeks of age, the industry is hoping that by slowing the growth and with the increase of vit.D/Calcium they will be able to extend the life and economic value of more chickens.


I'm definitely not saying the industry is perfect. But it's also no where near as horrible as people make it out to be.


I had an uncle who worked in a chicken possessing plant/slaughter house for six months until he couldn't take in any longer. I suggest you do the same.
CrazedWeasel
OCWIATJ Forever!
This message last edited by Danu on 09/11/2009 at 09:41:14 PM
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On "Chicken Crowding" LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 06:09:38 PM 973 Views
um nossy - 09/11/2009 06:16:06 PM 759 Views
mk, some clarification LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 06:33:17 PM 682 Views
you obviously have not seen the documentary "Food Inc" , please watch it *NM* Aisha - 09/11/2009 08:09:28 PM 362 Views
I seem to be in the middle of you two nossy - 09/11/2009 08:16:26 PM 682 Views
Yes, because those are never false LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 10:54:57 PM 669 Views
Citing movie documentaries as necessary "reading" material... Raserei - 10/11/2009 06:34:10 AM 566 Views
Raserei! *NM* Ghavrel - 10/11/2009 08:44:39 AM 294 Views
Bonjour. *NM* Raserei - 10/11/2009 09:43:06 PM 287 Views
Just saw that last night. Mad Cow Bomber - 10/11/2009 11:11:30 AM 743 Views
This might help snoopcester - 10/11/2009 11:13:17 AM 612 Views
even just reading the fact check (what I did), that's pretty awful. nossy - 10/11/2009 03:07:39 PM 615 Views
This might help snoopcester - 10/11/2009 11:13:18 AM 597 Views
Yea, but.. the smell. Kel - 09/11/2009 08:19:54 PM 670 Views
Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:10:57 AM 578 Views
Strongly? Kel - 10/11/2009 03:17:40 AM 569 Views
Chicken = yummy. *NM* Tigr - 09/11/2009 08:33:01 PM 444 Views
Ya know... MightyYT - 09/11/2009 08:49:32 PM 597 Views
that's half the reason i get so up in arms for the industry LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 10:57:05 PM 666 Views
Not all vegetarians are militant, ya know. Cockatiel of Doom - 10/11/2009 10:30:58 PM 685 Views
Which is great if you can only think in binary snoopcester - 09/11/2009 10:59:29 PM 553 Views
free range has a lot of issues people don't know about LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:15:10 PM 623 Views
Indeed, it isn't perfect. snoopcester - 09/11/2009 11:31:36 PM 576 Views
i would pick the regulated one. LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:32:50 PM 566 Views
Well that is a clear issue snoopcester - 09/11/2009 11:44:07 PM 542 Views
ah well good for the UK then LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:46:29 PM 571 Views
To correct myself, it is actually an EU standard snoopcester - 10/11/2009 11:56:38 AM 668 Views
yeah Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:16:19 AM 681 Views
the pain problem with the diesase management LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 02:21:31 AM 548 Views
I suggest you shut the flock up. Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:30:28 AM 725 Views
you are horrible LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 02:37:15 AM 666 Views
flock-to-flock contamination is quite a problem if you're trying to not feed the birds antibiotics. Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:59:10 AM 623 Views
Free range gays? Raserei - 10/11/2009 06:35:39 AM 528 Views
well theoretically LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 01:02:16 PM 515 Views
Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:31:58 PM 487 Views
Ummm... Danu - 10/11/2009 08:05:20 PM 617 Views
they're scattered here and there LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 08:22:31 PM 489 Views
I didn't find any posts that damning or anything. everynametaken - 11/11/2009 03:25:07 AM 602 Views
the only other one I've seen was by Nate snoopcester - 11/11/2009 10:58:21 AM 559 Views
Some questions and comments: Danu - 09/11/2009 09:37:56 PM 702 Views
Re: Some questions and comments: snoopcester - 09/11/2009 11:07:32 PM 610 Views
Re: Some questions and comments: LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:19:07 PM 621 Views
Dear meathead snoopcester - 09/11/2009 11:33:36 PM 634 Views
i was not referring specifically to you. LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:35:01 PM 510 Views
Fair enough, I didn't realise you were making unrelated comments for no clear reason snoopcester - 09/11/2009 11:42:59 PM 532 Views
it was related to what you were saying about standards LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:44:27 PM 498 Views
No, it was not related to what I was saying about chicken raising standards snoopcester - 10/11/2009 10:55:18 AM 516 Views
LOL, sorry sis, but the meathead thing was cute. Methinks I have a new nickname for my favoritest. StarrBecca - 10/11/2009 12:43:08 AM 590 Views
great LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 12:46:28 AM 490 Views
*sigh* LadyLorraine - 09/11/2009 11:14:27 PM 657 Views
You should use the quote box thingy on the far right of the Smiley Codes, it would make it easier Danu - 10/11/2009 01:01:02 AM 590 Views
ah, thank you for pointing that box out, i hadn't seen it. LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 01:30:50 AM 696 Views
right on. temeraire - 10/11/2009 05:20:48 PM 549 Views
we modified every domestic animal we have random thoughts - 10/11/2009 05:36:37 PM 493 Views
especially chickens. Chickens haven't even really ever lived in the wild... LaSombra - 15/11/2009 05:25:20 PM 587 Views
I know what you're trying to say, and I believe you. Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:54:09 AM 610 Views
most domesticated animals don't eat what they'd "naturally" eat LadyLorraine - 10/11/2009 01:10:36 PM 550 Views
true. But I think at this point we are getting away from commercially raised and more towards pets. Avendesora - 10/11/2009 02:29:01 PM 630 Views
A full-grown chicken needs 4sq ft coop and 10 sq ft outside space... LaSombra - 15/11/2009 12:51:00 AM 582 Views
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