470 Million Reasons to Say No to Factory Farmed Chickens

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Animal advocacy group, Voiceless, has launched its report, 'From Nest to Nugget: an exposé of Australia’s chicken factories', the latest in an annual series that lifts the veil of secrecy surrounding factory farming.

This hard-hitting report and accompanying consumer action sheet, on the factory farming of chickens for meat, will ruffle the feathers of an industry increasingly under siege from popular opinion.

470 million chickens were slaughtered in 2006/07 in Australia to feed demand that has grown a staggering 15,000% in the past 50 years. Most of these birds are factory farmed – forced to live in unnatural conditions and may lawfully be subjected to antibiotic laced feeds. They never feel the sun on their backs, the grass beneath their feet or enjoy the experience of raising their young.

The report’s findings include:

* Selective breeding has produced birds who can now grow to slaughter weight in just 35 days – compared to 64 days 30 years ago and the fact that they can naturally live up to 6 or 7 years.

* Up to 60,000 chickens may be housed in one shed, with less floor space than an A4 page to call their own.

* Three companies supply 80% of Australia’s meat chickens. One of the three biggest players, Baiada Poultry, slaughters more than 2.4 million chickens per week.

* Chickens labelled 'barn-fresh', 'grain-fed', 'hormone-free', and '100% natural' are likely to be sourced from factory farms.

To learn more got to the Voiceless website: www.voiceless.org.au/The_Issues/Misc/From_Nest_to_Nugget.html

The Voiceless team