Hugh's chicken programme?

[Leah]

Can't remember the title. Food for thought :(

[Mystic-Tree]

It's called Hugh's Chicken Run.

I'm watching it. I'm also a member on his forum but I am in two minds about the programme. Television is so dumbed down and it seems sensationalism but at the same time I believe Hugh is passionate about wanting to improve animal welfare in farming ...the last episode is tonight.

G xx

[Leah]

With the apathy he encountered I can imagine he might have felt the need to play it up for some people but I think he was very genuine in his own responses. This is obviously something that he feels incredibly strongly about. It would be wonderful if this prog and Jamie's prog on fri could stir up a bit of consumer power.
If supermarkets shaved their own profits in this area they could provide much more choice for shoppers.
Since moving here it has been much harder to buy freerange. The local butcher has not reopened since the floods, and there are only small supermarkets that don't always carry free range. There is a big economic divide in this town. If these progs raised customer demand the SM's would be more likely to respond.
Best of luck Hugh!

[Syann]

I'm totally behing Hugh on this one...it's something i think they should have sorted years ago...it's digusting really.

So, go Hugh!!! If it gets the message accross, and shows the supermarkets for what they really are, then i reckon it can only be a good thing.

[Princess Leia]

I've been watching - in a way I didn't want to, but I needed to see and reinforce what I thought / suspected.

I've been buying free range for roast dinners for a long time, but probably haven't paid that much attention when buying cooked chicken - that will change now.

[Leah]

I haven't bought any cooked chicken since my cooked/not cooked fiasco :( I think the SMs are wrong. I do think the demand is there. They were the same about organic produce till customers showed them the way. The more demand, the more we buy, the more economic sense it will make to the biggest producers.
It won't convince everyone, people are too long in their habits to change sometimes, but there's the future to think of too. Jamie may still be getting stick for his school dinners campaign, but my 9 yr old and her friends are now routinely looking at ingredients and starting to make informed choices. What's the betting they turn out to be more savvy , ethical shoppers one day?

[spicey]

I have been watching this programme too and am totally behind Hugh. We need to see what these birds go through before they reach our own dinner plates. It's utterly disgusting how the intensively farmed birds are treated and if I was aware of how they were treated before I would have ALWAYS bought free range. I've always bought free range eggs but never really paid much attention to the chickens themselve (strangley enough) but I will be from now on. He had to make a very hard descision in setting up his own intensive chicken farm but he has done it to show the Country how these birds are treated and I have to say I'm glad he has done it.

[Leah]

Just been reading the posts on Hugh's own forum [thanks for the tip G :)]
Raised a lot of issues not even mentioned yet but pretty horrifying. :( Didn't Jamie say last night the intensively reared broilers were 'topheavy' , the breast we all like to eat and tend to give our kids?
I didn't realise that chicken food had so many female hormones in it to promote growth :( Naive obviously. Lady claims that she was having hormone difficulties and her dr told her to stay away from too much chicken.
Hands up everyone who eats/chooses chicken thinking it's a healthier low cholesterol protein?
Hands up everyone who has hormone imbalance issues [PCOS, etc....ME ME ME!!!] :(

[spicey]

God it's just frightening isn't it. You really don't know what you're eating these days unless you've grown it/reared it yourself and even then who knows what chemicals are in our soil?! Just frightening. :(

[Banana]

Im not keen on him as he seems so keen to KILL KILL KILL!!

:lol:

[spicey]

I know but he really doesn't want to kill them, its a very harsh experiment and the only way he can show the nation what is actually happening to these poor birds. He has contacted nearly every chicken farmer in the UK/NI to let him in their farm with the cameras but nobody would let him (funnily enough). In the end he managed to get one guy from NI to help him and even he was told if he portrays the industry in a bad light he'd never work in the chicken farming industry ever again. :( This seems to be the only way Hugh could get his point across, which goes against everything he stands for and it's obviously upsetting him terribly having to cull every single bird that can't stand etc. So sad and I'm glad I've made myself watch it. :(

[Leah]

Im not keen on him as he seems so keen to KILL KILL KILL!!

:lol:
Sobbed his little curlytopped heart out last night. He'll happily take his piggies to slaughter to eat, [ever see Harry Hill do him 'can I eat it???!!'] but the culling for uneconomic birds [too small to sell :(] he found incredibly difficult.

[spicey]

At least the piggies had a good free range life. Those poor birds have to sit in their own excrement and never see the light of day. :(

[Lisa]

I've found it all very upsetting.

I've always bought free range eggs, but like thousands of others have bought the chickens in Tesco because of the cost. We had one for lunch on Sunday, before these programmes started and then cold with salad on Monday. Most of mine both days went in the cats, it had no taste.

Hugh was really upset with having to kill the birds. Tonight's programme looks like a real tear jerker, when the birds on the estate are slaughtered.

I will be getting mine from now on from the farmshop or our local butcher

[Leah]

At least the piggies had a good free range life. Those poor birds have to sit in their own excrement and never see the light of day. :(
Weren't the burns on their legs from the ammonia horrible? :( No wonder 'that well known provider of spiced and coated chicken pieces' cover them with breadcrumbs :(

[Lisa]

Killing for food when an animal has had a happy free range life is not a problem for me.
I grew up with it and although as a child I found it hard to feed the pigs and hand rear the lambs only to be served them up for Sunday lunch I eventually got use to it.

This is so different.
The birds have a dreadful life and the rubbish they have stuffed into them can only be a bad thing.
We eat chicken and feed it to our kids because we think it is the healthy option!! I don't think there is anything healthy about this either for the birds or the consumer.....The only winners are the supermarkets!

[Banana]

I didnt realise it was an expose... i thought it was a 'look at my baby chicks grow up and then watch me kill them!" programme...

I have seen the Harry Hill sketch.. v v v funny!

[spicey]

Weren't the burns on their legs from the ammonia horrible? :( No wonder 'that well known provider of spiced and coated chicken pieces' cover them with breadcrumbs :(
Yes, horrible. :(

You're right Lisa, the only people who win are the Supermarkets. This is why I HATE supermarkets with a passion. :( They're just money grabbing at every given opportunity and have put all the smaller, local shops out of business. Very sad. :(

[spicey]

I didnt realise it was an expose... i thought it was a 'look at my baby chicks grow up and then watch me kill them!" programme...

I have seen the Harry Hill sketch.. v v v funny!
Oh no Anna, he's doing it (even though he doesn't want to do it) to show the UK consumers where their Sunday roasts are coming from and how they are treated under intensive farming rules and regulations. It's really sick and Hugh really didn't want to resort to setting up his own intensive chicken farm but he couldn't get any farmers to let him in to their farms to film! Now we understand why! :(

[Banana]

hmmm.... just read some online reports on the programme....I dont agree with what he has done.

I understand what he is trying to do, but I feel it is unnecessary to inflict more harm to a small number of animals to attempt to illustrate the suffering millions endure, what makes their lives as unimportant than the others?

Undercover cameras etc could be used to get into the chicken farms by a documentary-esque programme to do an expose.

I think its an experiment unnecesarily too far.

[spicey]

I felt that way a little too Anna. As I don't wish to see any more birds suffering the same fate as already millions are. You never know though, this programme may just put a stop to the conditions that are currently deamed appropriate for animals to be kept in. I really hope this programme has an impact on the industry, at least that way the birds haven't completely died in vain (if you know where I'm coming from?). :(

[kittycatmad]

I haven't watched the programme but if you see the state on the battery hens that I rescue you would never eat anything that is not free range again........they are in a terrible state bless them.........and then they send them off to be killed what a life!!!!

[spicey]

I haven't watched the programme but if you see the state on the battery hens that I rescue you would never eat anything that is not free range again........they are in a terrible state bless them.........and then they send them off to be killed what a life!!!!
Yes, it's terrible Teresa. Absolutely disgusting how the poor things are treated. :(

[jeni]

i burst into tears with that first little chick... so horrid, obviously would been a worse death if left but it reconfirms some of the reasons i dont eat meat, although if i ever did i would pay that bit more and go free range EVERY time

[spicey]

Jeni, I am seriously thinking of going veggie myself. I have been for some time to be honest and this programme has only made me feel more strongly about it.

[jeni]

well if you need any advice i can help... :) you just have to make sure you dont compensate with mountains of cheese (lol like i do)

[spicey]

Aww, thanks hun!! I've gone and bought myself a load of veggie cook books!! Lol!! I LOVE cheese with a passion!! Had jacket spuds last night with grated cheese!! Mmmmmmm!! :)

[jeni]

lol yup it is my down fall too :) i am a quorn addict too....

[Leah]

I think he wanted to show that even with the best care and attention, intensively farmed animals will not have a quality of life. Sneak camera footage could have been discredited. He has done his level best to stick to what the industry calls the appropriate standard to really show the whole story from chick to choock. Even Jamie Oliver couldn't get in to see broiler chickens. It seems a very closed world.

[spicey]

Oooh yes, love quorn! In fact prefer it to chicken anyday funnily enough! It was after I tried the quorn that I started thinking about going veggie actually. I love the Linda McCartney sausages too!! :)

[spicey]

I think he wanted to show that even with the best care and attention, intensively farmed animals will not have a quality of life. Sneak camera footage could have been discredited. He has done his level best to stick to what the industry calls the appropriate standard to really show the whole story from chick to choock. Even Jamie Oliver couldn't get in to see broiler chickens. It seems a very closed world.
Yes Leah, I agree with you there. A very closed world... and now we know why! :(

[kittycatmad]

What happended to the chick??? We were going to hatch some of our eggs but you have to kill the males and I couldn't do it!!!

[spicey]

It wasn't moving around properly like it should so he had to kill him (as that's what happens in the industry and he had to do it by the industries guidelines) :( He's had to kill quite a few since then too due to their legs not working properly or being under a certain weight. So sad. :(

[kittycatmad]

Oh that's sad!!! Chicks are so lovely!!

[spicey]

It was heartbreaking to watch I have to admit. Hugh was himself in tears last night as he just couldn't bare to be killing such young birds without at least bringing them to a vet etc and getting them checked over etc. But he has to do it by the guidelines which he really doesn't agree with. :(

[Banana]

I think we should keep in mind he doesnt 'have to' he actually 'chooses to' !!

[jeni]

it was horrid :( poor liitle chick... and i so wasn't expecting it.. i'd just turned over...

[Lisa]

I agree it was awful and he didn't have to do it.

What it did do was to show us what is happening to thousands of birds all over the country every day.

[capricciosababs]

saw some of this - good for hugh getting the facts on non free range chicks out there in th open - we have our own thee hena here so at least we have homelaid organic eggs and know what goes into their foods - as for chickens we have ours from the butchers or buy organic free range for the cats of course - it costs a bit more but it breaks my heart to see how some poultrys treated even these days! worse thing is the way its packaged to protect the producers and make the man or woman in the supermarket believe its lived its life in luxury!

[spicey]

Yes, the whole situation is very sad. :(

[Banana]

I dont need someone to take up a 'challenge' on my behalf by treating thousands of birds so badly that they even have amonia burns on their legs...

I'm not so ignorant that I need to see it being practised by a weeping man for it to be proved.

I have not and would never buy a BM product again after what happened with the cricket game and I didnt even see the video - this was only played on news programmes.

The sad thing is that this 'Challenge' (as C4 describe it) is probably doing more for Hugh and C4's tv ratings than it is doing for the chickens!

As for it being likened to Jamies School Dinners.. the only changes Ive seen is that there are more vegetable type things on the kids menus, but it is still cooked as badly and looks as appetising as something you saw pre Jamie!

I do wish ppl would stop going on about how brilliantly he did with that.

[Banana]

I dont need someone to take up a 'challenge' on my behalf by treating thousands of birds so badly that they even have amonia burns on their legs...

I'm not so ignorant that I need to see it being practised by a weeping man for it to be proved.

I have not and would never buy a BM product again after what happened with the cricket game and I didnt even see the video - this was only played on news programmes.

The sad thing is that this 'Challenge' (as C4 describe it) is probably doing more for Hugh and C4's tv ratings than it is doing for the chickens!

As for it being likened to Jamies School Dinners.. the only changes Ive seen is that there are more vegetable type things on the kids menus, but it is still cooked as badly and looks as appetising as something you saw pre Jamie!

I do wish ppl would stop going on about how brilliantly he did with that.

*not suggesting anyone that watches it is ignorant btw... I feel resentful that we are the 'reason' he has taken up the 'challenge'.

It feels he already knows how hideous it is but only has to do this for 'us' - which I find insulting and beyond anyone's remit of acting on my behalf!

[spicey]

I know exactly what you are getting at Anna and I totally agree with you. Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant people in the world and I just hope this opens their eyes to how our animals are treated. But yes, I have to agree, he certainly shouldn't have set up his own 'challenge', should have gone about it another way (if there is another way?). :(

[Leah]

All I said about Jamie was that he'd managed to raise enough awareness that even children are now thinking a bit more about what they put in their mouths... [ducks and covers...]

[Banana]

:lol:

Sorry Im up on my high horse! :lol:

(In case you didnt notice?)

[spicey]

:lol: What? You, on your high horse Anna? Never!! :lol: *runs and hides!*

[Leah]

:grouphug:

[Banana]

:lol: What? You, on your high horse Anna? Never!! :lol: *runs and hides!*

:bancan:

[spicey]

:lol: Noooooooooooooooooooo please don't ban me!! :lol: :lol:

[kittycatmad]

I think it is really easy to go into a supermarket and pick up a cheap chicken I do it myself sometimes!!!!! I do try and buy free range meat when I can but if it's not there then I will buy what's there......it is easy to forget when you just see it packed on the shelfs, I think we need these programmes to remind us all how horrible animals are treated!!!

[jeni]

lol i love a good debate :)

i just wonder how long this awareness will last... unless Hugh manages to make a major impact with the supermarkets it will just get hushed up again....after all he, we and the chicks are at the mercy of the media...

[kittycatmad]

I am going to watch it tonight, as I said I always try and buy free range but just thinking about it I buy packs of frozen chicken breasts from Asda and I haven't looked where they came from!!!

It's easy to forget!!!

[Mochali]

I have to pass a chicken farm when I go to hospital appointments or shopping to Truro...just the smell alone lets you know its not right...I wont buy these chickens!

[kittycatmad]

But if you eat out or have a slice or cake or a chicken sandwiche it will most probably be from a battery farm!!!!

[Mochali]

I'll rephrase then...I shall not knowingly buy these chickens :)

[Joanne]

The free range chickens at my local farm shop are VERY expensive. I cannot eat a supermarket one as I saw a programme years ago which so put me off even now I feel sick at the thought. I love HFW, and would love to live up to his standards, but I think most people can't.

[kittycatmad]

I'll rephrase then...I shall not knowingly buy these chickens :)

Sorry wasn't having a go!!! But the lady at the battery rescue pointed it out to me and I never though about things like that!!!

[Leah]

I think this prog was very emotive [obviously designed to be so, ] but if it was a fair representation, then information does change the choices that a proportion of people make, and the ratio of broiler v freerange chooks on the shelf could change dramatically. :)
I noticed the labeling on my tesco chicked proudly stated that the chickens had acess outside and an enriched environment inside. The msg must be getting thru to SMs that people are interested and are looking for this info.

[Banana]

I have a plan that does not involve killing any more chickens to highlight the problem and hope all Hubbellers will get behind it when its launched!! :)

I begrudgingly watched the programme last night and 'hatched' a plan!



*On another note, Gabriel was stood next to me as I read the last couple of posts and saw Mia's pic on Leah's avatar and said "Look at that funny cat!" - I said to him that it was our kitten Jan.... "Our Jan?" he said - "She is all grown up now and is a proper cat!"

awww...

[Leah]

Awwww! Gabriel she's still a baby really! Just caught her with her head in the butter :catkisses:
Ooh Anna, a plan! Do tell :)

[rachel]

Although i think it may have gone too far and very distressing to watch - it is reality. It happens all over the country and people do not realise the extent of what really happens.
I never!

Maybe he could have gone about it a different way instead of slaughtering more chickens then he needed to but i am behind him 100%.

I absolutely love chicken and eat it all the time.... i cried my eyes out watching the programme the last few days.

But then it happens with all animals. After Hugh's programme last night, we turned over and watched something else 'grow it cook it eat it' or something like that. Showed calf's in the same situation. Britain is fantastic and does things 'properly' now but over the rest of the world :( That made me sick to the stomach to watch that!
Did anyone else see it?

[Princess Leia]

I didn't see that Rachel. Funnily enough though, I was wondering at the end of Hugh's programme last night what is next - how cheap beef is reared etc - is that as bad ?

The little thing that really got to me last night was when Hugh was in the supermarket and caught one of the people who grew the chickens on the allotment buying the cheap 2 for £5 ones - he pointed out the ones where the hocks had been cut off, because they'd been damaged by sitting in sh*t :(

That was the final straw for me ...

[Leah]

I need to say, though, Hugh raises chickens, he didn't slaughter any chickens flippantly, he just raised a proportion along approved lines [that he obviously doesn't approve of] instead of a whole free range flock. If we eat chicken [and I do] and not always free range [which I will try from now on] this is how it happens. I will certainly try much much harder to source better produced chicken now.
I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even realise how much personality chickens can have if it's allowed to develop. I have been very naive and ignorant :( That glorious sequence of the free rangers breaking through the fence and refusing to be ushered back inside at bed time really opened my eyes .:stars:

[Banana]

I agree Jools, that was the saddest bit for me to see... although I hadnt seen the one where he actually showed the burned legglies, he looked absolutely crushed that although she had actually seen it, she still was endorsing the cruelty!

[rachel]

I didn't see that Rachel. Funnily enough though, I was wondering at the end of Hugh's programme last night what is next - how cheap beef is reared etc - is that as bad ?

The little thing that really got to me last night was when Hugh was in the supermarket and caught one of the people who grew the chickens on the allotment buying the cheap 2 for £5 ones - he pointed out the ones where the hocks had been cut off, because they'd been damaged by sitting in sh*t :(

That was the final straw for me ...

That got to me too :(

It was called Kill It, Cook It, Eat It.

Is is worse in other countries for Cows.... Britain is really good, they keep then in large pens with straw/hay for bedding and to graze on, they get vitamin pellets and food and water. They all play together and sleep together with plenty of room.. only a few in each pen.

Abroad, they used to keep them tied up in pens not even big enough to get in let alone sleep on. Sleep on wooden slats or metal bars. Always falling over. No straw. Just food when it's given. No light at all.
Now they HAVE to by law (because of Britain) keep them in pens with daylight. But they still cram them in so much. And have no bedding. It's awful to see.

[spicey]

Yes, I saw that too Jools!! She should have known better really than to go in and buy two cheap birds for £5 :( But then as she said she's a single mother and can't afford to buy free range. It's not the girls fault though really, it's the Supermarkets for even allowing the chickens to be on their shelves. It's them that's making the money out of the birds mysery. :(

[spicey]

That got to me too :(

It was called Kill It, Cook It, Eat It.

Is is worse in other countries for Cows.... Britain is really good, they keep then in large pens with straw/hay for bedding and to graze on, they get vitamin pellets and food and water. They all play together and sleep together with plenty of room.. only a few in each pen.

Abroad, they used to keep them tied up in pens not even big enough to get in let alone sleep on. Sleep on wooden slats or metal bars. Always falling over. No straw. Just food when it's given. No light at all.
Now they HAVE to by law (because of Britain) keep them in pens with daylight. But they still cram them in so much. And have no bedding. It's awful to see.
That sounds horrible Rachel, I didn't see it myself but I'm going to be a lot more careful about what meats/poultry I buy in the supermarkets in future. I always try to buy free range eggs but never really paid much attention to meat etc. I will be from now on though.

[Banana]

Its a consumer world.. if we didnt want it.. they wouldnt stock it.. simple as that!!

[spicey]

Yes, that's very true Anna. And that lady buying those 2 for £5 chickens says it all really doesn't it?! :(

[Leah]

I know there are many many people who have to consider every single penny, and that is why it seems important that the consumers with the most power, the ones who can afford to choose differently with their purchasing power, make the effort, as they are the ones that could cause the production changes that will see ethically produced meat becoming more affordable for everyone. It's no coincidence that Waitrose were leading the pack so far as change goes. their customer base is prob going to have more economic power that some of the other SMs
That lady was at least buying meat to cook at home for her kids rather than a load of junk food and ping meals. I think if free range could be brought closer to her budget by the SMs taking slightly less profit per chook, she and many others might think differently.

[Princess Leia]

Petition to sign on the subjet here : http://www.supportchickennow.co.uk/petition/index.html

I often buy a chicken to roast from M&S - their Oakham chicken, which I am sure is free-range. The biggest one you can get is often half price at £5 and serves 6 people - I don't think that is unreasonable ?

[Banana]

Ive just been on the Tesco website and you can buy a free range chicken at the same size of the 2 for £5 ones for £4.80.

Therefore its actually only £2.30 more a chicken to make sure its not sat in its own and everyone elses crap for 38 days before you eat it...

animal welfare aside, I personally dont want to eat something that has sat in poo and wee that long, it must get into the meat surely?

[spicey]

I've signed it and sent it to a load of my friends via email and in turn asked them to send it on to everyone they know too!!

[Syann]

Ive just been on the Tesco website and you can buy a free range chicken at the same size of the 2 for £5 ones for £4.80.

Therefore its actually only £2.30 more a chicken to make sure its not sat in its own and everyone elses crap for 38 days before you eat it...

animal welfare aside, I personally dont want to eat something that has sat in poo and wee that long, it must get into the meat surely?



It's hard to believe that the amonia levels (from the wee), at least, dont affect the quality/taste of the meat some how...

If you're continuosly breathing it in, it surely must do!

Poor, poor chickens...
:catsad:

[Leah]

Ive just been on the Tesco website and you can buy a free range chicken at the same size of the 2 for £5 ones for £4.80.

Therefore its actually only £2.30 more a chicken to make sure its not sat in its own and everyone elses crap for 38 days before you eat it...

animal welfare aside, I personally dont want to eat something that has sat in poo and wee that long, it must get into the meat surely?
Not a nice thought is it, but would help explain the endemic salmonella prob :(
I think they worked out that the ave FR would cost most families 50p a head more than a cheapie. Money well spent. What I need in my small Sms is to see the choice of FR consistently available, which is not the case at the moment.

[Lisa]

I signed the Chickens Out petition yesterday. Just spent the last half hour reading the forum on the official site.

Hayley is getting a real slating, as are the people in the pub, boozing yet complaining about paying an extra couple of pound for a free range chicken.

[Banana]

:lol: that was quite funny...

We are low income around here, they say whilst drinking £3-£4 pints! :lol:

[Lisa]

Yes and the pub was packed.

[spicey]

And I'm not being funny but it certainly didn't look like she was suffering from malnutrition either!! :lol:

[rachel]

It's hard to believe that the amonia levels (from the wee), at least, dont affect the quality/taste of the meat some how...

If you're continuosly breathing it in, it surely must do!

Poor, poor chickens...
:catsad:


It is horrible. When we do the Chickens and Turkeys each year for Christmas, it is pretty much the same slaughtering process, except they done have all the machinary so is all done by hand. We change the staw everyday whilst they are being killed as the amonia can get so strong you literally cannot see out of your eyes, can't imagine what it would be like for the poor chickens. :(
The amonia is from the dust in the feathers i think so if you leave nasty feathers on the ground that's when the amonia kicks in.
The thing that hits you is the smell of sh!t when they are alive. :(

[rachel]

And I'm not being funny but it certainly didn't look like she was suffering from malnutrition either!! :lol:


Did you see everyone's faces when Hugh said they would be eating the chickens for Sunday lunch..... they looked heartbroken.

She had an evil look in her eye...... "FOOD" ........ "FREE FOOD" :cattrance:

[spicey]

Did you see everyone's faces when Hugh said they would be eating the chickens for Sunday lunch..... they looked heartbroken.

She had an evil look in her eye...... "FOOD" ........ "FREE FOOD" :cattrance:
:lol: :lol: Yes!! :lol: Why oh why would she go into Tesco's (knowing full well Hugh was probably there with the cameras as they were fully aware they'd been going there all week!! Stupid woman!! And as Anna said, there's not much price difference between the organic ones anyway! If they can afford to be sitting in the pub all day (and probably living of the state half of them) then they can afford an extra couple of quid a week on a flamin chicken!

[Princess Leia]

And did you see the size of her wine glass on the table when they were eating !!!

[spicey]

Yes, these people wind me up!! They cry out that they're skint when they're obviously not that badly off.... they wouldn't be the size they are if they were!! :lol:

[Mochali]

Having seen the programme about veal last night, 'kill it, cook it, eat it', I shall be eating more of it...It made me cry to think we kill calves for nothing, because there are misconceptions about eating it in this country.

[Princess Leia]

Having seen the programme about veal last night, 'kill it, cook it, eat it', I shall be eating more of it...It made me cry to think we kill calves for nothing, because there are misconceptions about eating it in this country.

What is the misconception ??

[Mochali]

Eating baby animals basically...the trouble is because there is so little call for it here, but its eaten in europe, thousands of male calves are culled because there is nothing the farmer can do with them. I had no idea until last night :(

We have strict guidelines for veal, unlike Europe who dont :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/veal.shtml

[Princess Leia]

VERY interesting - thanks Hana

I am one of those people who never eats veal, but may have to rethink now ....

[Mochali]

I know everyone has there own opinions but it really made me think...lamb tonight I think. Tough to watch though, but eye opening.

[Banana]

I cant eat a baby cow :(

[spicey]

I'm seriously thinking of going veggie.... only I like my meat too much!! Maybe just cut right down on it.

[Mochali]

Sad, as that baby cow gets slaughtered anyway :(

[rachel]

That's the programme Hana..... horrifying wasn't it. To think they are being killed for nothing :(

I actually went and bought some earlier myself to try, have never tasted it before but if i like it i will be buying more of it.

When they showed the difference in British conditions and else where's i actually felt proud (i know it sounds funny) and happy that we didn't treat our animals the same way they do.

[rachel]

I'm seriously thinking of going veggie.... only I like my meat too much!! Maybe just cut right down on it.


Andrea, animals will still be killed for food whether you eat it or not... that's life. It is awful to watch them being killed but it is so much better if they have a good life.

[Mochali]

I think as long as the animal has a good life, however short, then I am willing to eat it. We eat baby animals all the time...lamb and 40-60 day old chickens.

[spicey]

Andrea, animals will still be killed for food whether you eat it or not... that's life. It is awful to watch them being killed but it is so much better if they have a good life.
Oh yes, totally agree Rachel, I know they'll still be killed anyway regardless but I have been thinking of going veggie for a while as I've gone off a lot of types of meat anyway, not because of the fact animals are dying, just cause I've gone off the taste and I'm appalled at how certain animals/birds are treated. I love quorn too so would be happier to eat that than chicken half the time anyway!

[Leah]

I think as long as the animal has a good life, however short, then I am willing to eat it. We eat baby animals all the time...lamb and 40-60 day old chickens.
I agree. It is the quality of life before the table that needs to improve. :)

[Mochali]

As Craig is forever going past my Aunts house now, I am going to ask if I can buy off of her. Totally free range :)

[Leah]

As Craig is forever going past my Aunts house now, I am going to ask if I can buy off of her. Totally free range :)
Will she prepare it for you?

[spicey]

If I had the land I've have chickens for laying eggs (don't think I could bring myself to kill and eat them though... just for eggs). My mum and her parents used to keep chickens in their yard during the war time and used to feed them so well that the yolks would be nuclear yellow/orange colour and REALLY flavoursome! :)

[Mochali]

Yes, we had a duck from her for Xmas as a pressie...delish and I knew it had a wonderful life :)

[spicey]

Yes, we had a duck from her for Xmas as a pressie...delish and I knew it had a wonderful life :)
Sounds fab Hana! :)

[Mochali]

As Anna says though...its not that much more expensive at Tescos.

[Leah]

Yes, we had a duck from her for Xmas as a pressie...delish and I knew it had a wonderful life :)
Much better. Part of my complaint to the butcher I went to at xmas was that I had grave doubts about how 'freerange' a bird could be if it had a pressure sore on it's breast. If they are growing birds so large that it is not physically possible for them to get off the perch then I would like to know that as I would not have bought it :(

[Mochali]

Much better. Part of my complaint to the butcher I went to at xmas was that I had grave doubts about how 'freerange' a bird could be if it had a pressure sore on it's breast. If they are growing birds so large that it is not physically possible for them to get off the perch then I would like to know that as I would not have bought it :(
I remember when I was much younger, chasing the geese around her small holding and then being told that we were eating them at Xmas. It was not awful at all, but quite nice knowing where they'd come from and the lovely life they'd had. We used to get told off for chasing them though...lol

[spicey]

I remember when I was much younger, chasing the geese around her small holding and then being told that we were eating them at Xmas. It was not awful at all, but quite nice knowing where they'd come from and the lovely life they'd had. We used to get told off for chasing them though...lol
:lol: Hana!

Yes Leah, that bird you had at Christmas sounded as though it was too large or not quite as organic as they lead you to believe. :(

[Mochali]

Organic and free range are very different though?

[spicey]

If I had the choice they'd be organic AND free range. Like to know they're getting fed good healthy wholesome food and have been allowed to roam in the sunshine and scratch around in the dirt! :)

[Mystic-Tree]

I think Hugh's programme was flawed. At the end of the day it was sensationalist programming that I have come to expect from C4

I thought that it was interesting at the end of the "campaign" less than 500 whole chickens had been sold to a population of 6000 people in one week. I think many people just didn't buy chicken at all!!!

A question to all those of you who are changing your lifestyles as a result ...

what will your cats be eating?

G xxx

[rachel]

I think Hugh's programme was flawed. At the end of the day it was sensationalist programming that I have come to expect from C4

I thought that it was interesting at the end of the "campaign" less than 500 whole chickens had been sold to a population of 6000 people in one week. I think many people just didn't buy chicken at all!!!

A question to all those of you who are changing your lifestyles as a result ...

what will your cats be eating?

G xxx



:lol: MY chicken of course! When i roast a chicken they usually get half of it anyway, i will still do the same.

[Leah]

I think Hugh's programme was flawed. At the end of the day it was sensationalist programming that I have come to expect from C4

I thought that it was interesting at the end of the "campaign" less than 500 whole chickens had been sold to a population of 6000 people in one week. I think many people just didn't buy chicken at all!!!

A question to all those of you who are changing your lifestyles as a result ...

what will your cats be eating?

G xxx




They didn't look at all the chickens purchased, just the ones from tescos as it was the biggest supermarket .
I'm not claiming I will change my life and become a chicken martyr, just think a bit more about my choices rather than not thinking at all. I don't think this is a bad thing.

[Mochali]

Valid question G and I have to say, probably standard chicken in all products :(

[Mystic-Tree]

:lol: MY chicken of course! When i roast a chicken they usually get half of it anyway, i will still do the same.

Of course we all do that lol ... I was referring mainly to the chicken in cat food products.

G xx

[Princess Leia]

Tescos said their chicken sales were 50% down on the previous week - when he went in to review the sales figures on that really modern looking system !!

[Mochali]

We can only do what we can really, but at least we can try and change the conditions these chickens are reared in :)

[Leah]

Forgot to say it's not my life style I was thinking of, but the lifestyle of the chickens. Maybe that makes me naive in your eyes but you have to start somewhere.

[Mochali]

Forgot to say it's not my life style I was thinking of, but the lifestyle of the chickens. Maybe that makes me naive in your eyes but you have to start somewhere.
Yes, I agree :)

[Mystic-Tree]

It would be interesting to see what the figures are 12 months down the line. It took a lot of leafleting to get the response they did ... I hope that people will change their habits and Warren's really hit the nail on the head -- he's a smart chap -- Hailey and the pub goers should take note.

G xxx
Warren for Prime Minister :)

[Mystic-Tree]

Forgot to say it's not my life style I was thinking of, but the lifestyle of the chickens. Maybe that makes me naive in your eyes but you have to start somewhere.

it's both your lifestyle and that of the chickens and the ones used in pet foods are not happy free range chickens unless stated on the tin/packet.

G xx

[Mochali]

The good thing aout these programs is that its got everyone riled up and talking about it :)

[Leah]

it's both your lifestyle and that of the chickens and the ones used in pet foods are not happy free range chickens unless stated on the tin/packet.

G xx
I understand that G. I just don't think chicken revolution will happen overnight, but the start could be made with consumer power, If the weekly shopper demands better conditions for her sunday lunch then we could one day hopefully see improvements in the living conditions for all poultry. I think that the fact that thousands of people up and down the country are today asking questions that they never thought of before is positive even if it is just a tiny step in the right direction.

[Banana]

Shall I email Roger and ask if his chicken in Applaws are happy? :lol:

[rachel]

Of course we all do that lol ... I was referring mainly to the chicken in cat food products.

G xx



:lol:


I think the programme was a good thing, it has caused awareness.

[Mochali]

Shall I email Roger and ask if his chicken in Applaws are happy? :lol:
I think its made in Thailand...gulp!

[Mystic-Tree]

Shall I email Roger and ask if his chicken in Applaws are happy? :lol:

I checked out the Burns cat food site briefly and they say their chickens are uncaged ... but those battery chickens on hugh's programme weren't in cages so I do wonder what meaning it held. I don't have time at the moment to find out either :(

I doubt Roger's Chickens are free range ... have you see the footage of poultry farming out there ??? I'm sure if there were FR then Roger has the business acumen to state it on the tin!

G xxx

[Banana]

yes it is :shock:

[Mystic-Tree]

wow!!! That's good news. Why doesn't he make more of it in his advertising ... or has he changed it since I last looked at a tin?

G xxx

[Lisa]

I'm as I have already said all for free range and organic and will not be buying the cheap stuff anymore, but going on from what G has said about feeding our cats.

I think the animal rights lot would have a field day with us.

We don't want to eat and buy cheap chicken but we all feed it to our cats in pretty much all the prepared food.

We keep them indoors all their lives (yes I know in the lap of luxury) we selectively breed them to get the type we like, we take them to shows and pen them all day in a 2'x2' space and our stud boys are kept outside in sheds.
Yes I know it is a completely different thing, but if you were looking from the outside it all make us sound very hypocriticle.

[rachel]

It does, doesn't it :(

[Mochali]

Almo Nature profess to using free range :)
Applaws feed there chickens organic food.

[Mystic-Tree]

I'm as I have already said all for free range and organic and will not be buying the cheap stuff anymore, but going on from what G has said about feeding our cats.

I think the animal rights lot would have a field day with us.

We don't want to eat and buy cheap chicken but we all feed it to our cats in pretty much all the prepared food.

We keep them indoors all their lives (yes I know in the lap of luxury) we selectively breed them to get the type we like, we take them to shows and pen them all day in a 2'x2' space and our stud boys are kept outside in sheds.
Yes I know it is a completely different thing, but if you were looking from the outside it all make us sound very hypocriticle.

Let's not tell them :panic:

G xxx

[Leah]

vets on the radio yesterday were advising farmers to keep birds in in doors after those swans in dorset were confirmed to have bird flu.

[Princess Leia]

I watched a programme last night that I thought would be related but it wasn't - about labelling on ready meals. To be honest, I thought it was utterly crap sensationalism, raising "issues" about the labelling that really weren't that bad.

Surprise surprise, buying the more expensive ready meals means you take in more fat - that is where the flavour is so I really don't see what the big drama is :roll:

[spicey]

If you don't make it from scratch you really don't know what's in it unfortunately. I watched Dispatches - What's Really in you food - last night. Interesting that All Bran has more salt per 100g than a packet of crisps does! Cornflakes had even more sald per 100 g than All Bran and Jordan Country Crisp had a lot of fat in it (through the nuts etc) but I would class fat from nuts etc as a good fat anyway, not saturated.

[Lisa]

I watched it too.

Nothing that shocking really, I try not to buy ready meals anyway.

The only bit that surprised me was that a chicken and mushroom pie had loads more fat than fish and chips a kebab or a Mc D's!

[Lisa]

I thought it was a bit much going on about fruit juice too.
Surely even though it has a lot of natural sugar in it, it must be better to drink than coke! They made it sound like it was just as bad for you.

[Princess Leia]

Yes, it was Dispatches I saw. I think we have got to the point where people are telling us that everything we eat is bad for us - you just can't win any more !

Yes, you have to be aware that you can't drink limitless amounts of fruit juice, but don't portray it as something bad !! The same with All Bran - I HAVE to eat high fibre stuff like that or my digestive system slows to a crawl. That is what it is good for. I am fortunate in that I don't really like salt, so the higher salt content doesn't really matter as I won't go over my daily allowance.

Nanny state gone mad

[spicey]

Yes, the acid in the fruit juice etc. Well obviously there's acid in it... all fruit as some amount of acid in it! It's just a case of everything in moderation and regular teeth cleaning!!

I rarely buy ready made meals myself anymore, I have to admit I did used to but now I only buy the packets of pasta (ravioli type) and some of the tomato & basil sauce (occasionally a lasagne but not very often). I was told by my dietician to cut down on them as my cholestrol was getting quite high. It's gone right down since I've stopped eating them and take Benecol. :)

[Mystic-Tree]

I saw a bit of the programme and didn't fully catch the all bran data ... but if it was 100g of all bran compared with a pack of crisps then it's a bit of a misleading statistic ... a pack of crisps weighs approx 30g!!

G xxx

[Princess Leia]

I can't remember the figures they quoted on the programme. However, looking at the website gives the following info, with the % being the percentage of RDA. I cross-checked and this is based on a 100g serving - nearly twice the size I have !

Per Serving
Calories Value : 112
Percentage : 6%
Sugar Value : 7g
Percentage : 8%
Fat Value : 1.5g
Percentage : 2%
Saturates Value : 0.3g
Percentage : 1%
Salt Value : 0.6g
Percentage : 10%

[capricciosababs]

ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION?
if you have a garden, what about getting three pet hens, females, from a reputable poultry breeder the way we do with gccf kittens of course, and then raising them in their own playpen area with a small henhouse for safety from foxes at nights - they will soon reward you with some fresh eggs and wil give you great fun for years, and also you can recycle your food waste since hens enjoy titbits like bacon rinds, melon rinds, some spare spinach etc, any over roasted sunday potatoes, plus some pastas...so your wheelie bins wont be so full every week either and maybe the next door neighbours will trade you some spare green veg for a few homelaid eggs> eg we have three huge rhode island cross lt sussex hens in our veg garden and they are so sweet and we have only had to buy supermarket freerange eggs once in three years when they didnt lay with wt weather, they want fresh straw aomeone to chat to them and foods and waters daily, and those of you with small children will soon think theyre fab family fun...pps sspare feathers - the cats love toplay with these when hens shed them in the hot summers! PS I PLEDGE ONLY EVER TO PURCHASE FREERANGE COMMERCIAL SUPERMARKET OR PREF. LOCAL BUTCHERS CHICKENS TO FEED US AND OR THE CATS !!!

[Mystic-Tree]

we used to rescue battery egg farm chickens. At less than two years of age the system was so awful that they stopped laying and had to be killed. We rescued loads and they all went on to lay happily into old age! I can still remember most of their names too - my sister and I had 6 each to start with!! Although I have to say it put me off eggs!!!

G xxx

[Syann]

we used to rescue battery egg farm chickens. At less than two years of age the system was so awful that they stopped laying and had to be killed. We rescued loads and they all went on to lay happily into old age! I can still remember most of their names too - my sister and I had 6 each to start with!! Although I have to say it put me off eggs!!!

G xxx


My dad did the same G....we had lots over about 10 yrs...it was so sad when he broght them back fior the first time as they'd just stand in one spot for hours , not realising they could move...

[Mystic-Tree]

we had one ... one of mine; her name was Tawny ... she would stand on her own foot, not realising that if she stepped a little further forward then she'd be able to move her other foot a step and so on. It took her ages to learn but they were very nice birds and very friendly.

G xxx

[LoopyLoo]

Wouldn't having hens in the garden encourage foxes to come sniffing around? I'd be worried in case my old outdoor rescue cats became dinner to a fox!