Jamie's Fowl Dinners

[Leah]

Hhhmmmm.
Made some very valid points, thought the enriched barn chickens were an excellent step forward for those on a budget ...Only 1 pound more for a chicken that has had space to run and perch and exercise and socialise. I've tasted the tesco version [willow farm] and they taste much much better too.
Hope very much more farmers can adopt this if they balk at going free range.
Farmers currently get 1p per broiler chook :( Shameful.
Did think he strayed off the point, though, didn't think slaughter was the issue. Hope attention won't be deflected because of that.

Really opened my eyes so far as cheap catering goes, what an earth was that liquid egg muck?
And HOW do you make a 'long egg'???? :catsick1:

[Banana]

Watched this :(

Hated the little chicks on conveyer belts.... I dont think I can eat chicken at all anymore...

[Lisa]

Was a bit of an eye opener.

Yet again the big Supermarkets did not attend!

Those poor little chicks at the breeding plant, they were treated no better than a can of soup on that production line and it wouldn't matter if we all ate free range organic that side of it and the killing of the male chicks isn't going to change as they are all treated the same.

Paul wants me to go out and get some chickens to keep in the garden so that we can have fresh eggs!!! I'm going to have a chat with my vet who breeds them next week.

[Leah]

Watched this :(

Hated the little chicks on conveyer belts.... I dont think I can eat chicken at all anymore...
I was completely speechless watching that, [doesn't happen to me often] but it never entered my consiousness that live animals could be processed like that? Who an earth thought of it in the first place?

And the chicken factory where they all hatch in closed drawers :(

[Banana]

the kids were still up as we didnt get back from my friends house until late and everyone sat mouth open watching it.. Gabriel burst into tears..

Every meal now, they ALL announce "Im not eating chicken" :(

Those poor poor birds...

[Lisa]

Trouble is the egg from these poor birds is in so many products. I bet we could all go into our kitchens and pull out loads of them.

[Leah]

Trouble is the egg from these poor birds is in so many products. I bet we could all go into our kitchens and pull out loads of them.
This is why pester power is so important. The only reason big manufacturers stopped using those god awful transfats in every manufactured product on the shelves was when the weekly shopper said 'Get Lost!' If Hellmens mayo is going cage free, the rest will start to follow if it is shown that the shopper will pay a bit more for it.

[Princess Leia]

Watched it too :(

I bet the individual manufacturers will soon start charging a premium for the same product made with ethically reared / laid chicken and eggs - jumping on the bandwagon and milking it for all it is worth

[Mogdred]

I also watched this and I didn't realise how industrial it was with the little chicks on the conveyor belts and the male ones getting gassed!

I've agreed with the missus that we will from now on buy RSPCA Freedom chickens or freerange where our budget allows, we already buy freerange eggs and apart from knowing that the chickens have a much better life ... omelettes taste soo much better than ones made from battery produced eggs.

[Princess Leia]

For some reason I was convinced that the M&S Oakham chickens were all free-range.

Just checked the one that Russ bought today and it is not :( It is indoor-reared to M&S standards that seem to equate to the Freedom Food standards.

Am a bit annoyed, especially as their chicken is bloody expensive.

[Soupie]

Hhhmmmm.
Made some very valid points, thought the enriched barn chickens were an excellent step forward for those on a budget ...Only 1 pound more for a chicken that has had space to run and perch and exercise and socialise. I've tasted the tesco version [willow farm] and they taste much much better too.


I thought that was a good idea and certainly an improvement on battery run. I only buy chickens from local free range farms or from the Morrisons Wye Valley range which is farmed in accordance with the RSPCA scheme and the taste is noticeably different. I am fortunate that I can afford to do this and recognise the need for a more humane version which is between these types and the 2 for £5 type budget range of chicken catfrustrated

[Susie]

I'm a veggie, Can't stand the thought of eating an animals flesh, but ...I do eat eggs on occassions and absolutely love mayo. I have to admit to not being brave enough to watch any of the chicken programmes, however I think it s a good thing that these things are being brought under scrutiny.

The poor animals that are "processed", makes me feel quite ill to think about it. I shall certainly take more care in the purchase of my eggs in future. No longer from the supermarket. I am going to buy mine from the farm where I get all my vegetables from, in the future, they are all home produced, and although a fair bit more pricey I don't care. I won't fund these "factory" processed chickens any more.

There is no way I could sit and watch an animal be slaughtered, therefore I don't feel that I should eats its flesh if I am not prepared to see what the creature goes through to get on myplate. Its just a personal choice for me and something that played on my conscience for ages before I went meatless last year.

Darryl still eats meat, and of course the cats have chicken or ham for their supper, so I pay the extra money and go for the RSPCA approved meats, and free range stuff for them. I am not convinced though that all of these do guarantee better treated animals.

[Mogdred]

For some reason I was convinced that the M&S Oakham chickens were all free-range.

Yup it's a bit misleading - My missus works for M&S and she was under that impression aswell. There is however an Oakham Freerange chicken but I've never seen one in the fridge section will try and get a photo of the packaging next time I'm in.

[spicey]

Trouble is the egg from these poor birds is in so many products. I bet we could all go into our kitchens and pull out loads of them.
I watched this programme too and also was totally gob smacked by how those poor chicks are 'manufactured' on a conveyor belt :(. Was very sad the way they were just thrown on etc. :(

I did however like the fact that Mr Helmans (Helmans mayonnaise) is going to start using free range eggs in their products from February this year and the whole range will be totally converted over by June this year. That just goes to show that these large manufacturers really can make a difference.

Still don't like the way the chicks are dealt with/hatched etc though. :(

[Leah]

Call me jaded, but I can't help feeling cynical when I go to tescos [this a.m.] to find all Willow Farm chicken [the rspcsa approved stuff] gone from shelves [sold?] and all the bogstandard broiler chicken repackaged with bright colourful labels screaming 'Healthy Eating!, Low fat, High Protein!' etc....:angelic

[Banana]

Finn and I went into Tescos this morning to find something to cook for dinner tonight (I have to cook fresh now I am practically a member of the WI! :lol:)

Finn looked at the chickens and declared "Im not eating chicken, they cut their heads off and look you can see their bottoms!" :lol:

We were stood next to a tesco lady restocking the chicken section.. I looked at her as she scowled and I shrugged my shoulders saying "Well done Finn, not quite the point, but well done!"

:lol: Bad parent again - soon Finn will be banned from all shops in Andover! :lol:

I agree re packaging, although I do thnk its possibly because its January and the hot marketing topic this month is healthy eating....

[Mochali]

I went to Asda the other day and couldnt get a free range chicken as they'd sold out!

[rachel]

I went to Asda the other day and couldnt get a free range chicken as they'd sold out!


I went to Asda's last night to buy a free range chicken too.... they did not have one free range bird in there.... I was looking at all the labels to see if they had sold out but there was not one.
I went and found a little old lady who worked there and asked where the free rangers were, and got told we do not sell those here dear, we do have three packets of free range, extra special, thighs tho..... in the beef section :shock:

[Leah]

I went to Asda's last night to buy a free range chicken too.... they did not have one free range bird in there.... I was looking at all the labels to see if they had sold out but there was not one.
I went and found a little old lady who worked there and asked where the free rangers were, and got told we do not sell those here dear, we do have three packets of free range, extra special, thighs tho..... in the beef section :shock:
How odd!

[Banana]

Ive been to Tescos this morning and bought a Free Range Chicken.. There were around 5 on the shelf...

There were also Willow Farm ones, but they are still kept in a barn and just have a window, so didnt like them either...

Of course there were about 4 million of the intense farmed chickens....

The FR chicken was about £2.50 more expensive weight for weight....

[spicey]

:(

Doesn't look like it's helped at all then does it! I knew it wouldn't. :(

[Mystic-Tree]

I'm sure it has made a difference. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts. I love Finn's bottom comment!!! We are still on pork rations ... free range pig :)

G xx

[Princess Leia]

I found out recently that virtually all M&S ready meals are made with free range eggs :)

[DizzyJenni]

For some reason I was convinced that the M&S Oakham chickens were all free-range.

Just checked the one that Russ bought today and it is not :( It is indoor-reared to M&S standards that seem to equate to the Freedom Food standards.

Am a bit annoyed, especially as their chicken is bloody expensive.

I thought it was too! Thats all my mum ever buys if she knows i'm coming for dinner. Thats pee'd me off, i was certain it was - that'll teach me for not reading the packaging.