The dark side of 'free-range' chickens

[Jemdude]

Ordering free-range chicken at a restaurant may make you feel good, but it turns out you may not be doing the birds any favour.

Uncaged chickens are exposed to higher levels of bacteria, parasites and viruses that put them at greater risk for disease and infection compared with their caged counterparts, new research from Sweden's national veterinary institute shows..

Chickens not kept in cages are often housed in shelters where the floor doubles as a giant litter box. As a result, hens have direct contact with bacteria and microorganisms that grow in the litter, which can greatly increase health risks, said the study, available on BioMed Central's journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

full article (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090115.wlchics15/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home)

[Scythe]

I think at that point, the fact that they're dead might be some kind of indicator as to what favors you did them.

[gingerlove]

I think at that point, the fact that they're dead might be some kind of indicator as to what favors you did them.

HAHAHA good point

[Lain]

I used to live with a girl who was dating a guy who's parents owned a chicken farm, they're kept in a huge shelter and thats right, its a giant litter box. She said they have to open the doors when they take them out for slaughter at night because the light scares them so much they'll run back and smother each other.

She also claims they are electrocuted on the truck, however this friend was also full of **** and was trying to convince me that chickens from this farm at least are perfectly ethical to eat.

[jenni-anti-fur]

HAHAHA good point

Totally....LOL

Peace Love and Happiness

Jenn

[thunderwolf]

Chickens not kept in cages are often housed in shelters where the floor doubles as a giant litter box. As a result, hens have direct contact with bacteria and microorganisms that grow in the litter, which can greatly increase health risks, said the study, available on BioMed Central's journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

Eh?

If the chickens are kept in a large room with no room to roam outside etc then this is certainly not Free Range. Certainly DEFRA insist that the chickens spend 50% of their life outside. Perhaps this is a EU\UK vs USA issue though with naming?

[rainforests1]

They mention studying 914 hens but I don't feel it's a big enough sample size. I'm not surprised about the results though. Thanks for posting.

[TheZedWord]

Seems that rather than cramming them into small and overcrowded cages, they've crammed them into a larger overcrowded one. They still can't spread their wings and they live in their own s***, but hey, the roof is higher! That's got to count for something, right? :brood:

[dormouse]

I, of course, would never eat chicken, but I do try to buy cage-free eggs. Does anyone know what brands of eggs are legitimately "cage free"?

[Licence]

Free-range, organic, whatever...its still murder.

[MaryToulouse]

If I ate meat I wouldn't give a damn about whether it was free range or not, I'm gonna eat it any way so why does it's life matter to me?

I have this row with my bf all the time, and he says it's about 'respect for the animal'. I can't get through to him that you stopped respecting it when you ordered it on your plate.

Having said all this, since I don't eat meat I do insist that he has free range. . .