Some questions and comments: - Edit 1
Before modification by Danu at 09/11/2009 09:41:14 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 for six months until he couldn't take in any longer. I suggest you do the same.