The thing is though farmers won't be able to support the demand if the prices of free range/organic does come down. They need much more room for a start.

Anyone Know the song that was played during the End Credits, Driving me crazy as i've heard it on fives coverage of the NFL but don't know the artist or song name.

It's a bit off topic I know but It's driving me crazy.

I buy organic and these progammes have reconfirmed that choice for me as well as making me more aware of some of the 'unseen' issues.

ollysmrs, one of the saddest things for me was the reality that all male chicks, whether they are destined for free range producers or battery farmers, are gassed/minced. Just so sad!

Hasn't the farming industry been saying that there's no profit in beef and lamb production anymore though? And don't a lot of farmers get subsidies if they leave land fallow?

I don't know enough about the economics of it all, but you'd think at least some beef/lamb farmers could switch to free range chickens - if the demand is there?

bear in mind its not just male chickens either, just how many bulls do you think are required on a dairy farm? male crossbreds are no good for quality beef and noone eats the type of cuts they used to be used for in the past, and are therefore surplus to requirements also.

Yes, I'm aware of most of the practicalities as I grew up in a farming area. I've seen animals slaughtered and seen how farms are run, although as I said, I don't know all the ins and outs, obviously. I just find it sad.

That is sad. Obviously the most profitable way to use them is to kill them and then use them in pet food etc. Which to me, is worse than anything else that happens to the chickens that are destined for our plates.

If I had the land and money I would set up a chicken farm where all the males could come and live happily.

Just catching up with now. I watched all the Kill It Cook It progs this week too. I'm a confirmed carnivore, but I'm certainly going free range / organic when I can afford it (which I could do by just having meat less often)

Me too

I can't see why the males can't be reared for meat.

the male chicks in question are born on egg producing farms, not chicken for meat farms, not many farms are dual purpose in intensive farming. cheaper to kill them than transport them?

Their meat isn't as 'good'

What about capons? Aren't they cockerels?

Just looked on Wiki:


Doesn't say what the welfare issues are though. I know male lambs are castrated.

True. For some reason I never thought of that. (it's Friday, my brain has switched off ).

There must be some reason they aren't though surely? Seems odd now i think about it that they aren't. Even if they are the wrong breed for horrid broilers would they not be suitable for free rangers? Maybe it is that they get more money for them fr animal feed than they do from chicken rearers?

again its a matter of production, certain breeds are good layers but not good for meat, and vice versa
same for cattle, milkers and beef, therefore the male offspring of either are no good for the other, well, sort of, see it wouldn't bother me to eat a egglayer, the meats not as generous, or as tasty maybe, but too many males together fight so keeping them is not really an option anyway.

It has really upset me, if we all boycotted the battery hens etc, something would have to change, surely But, not everyone can realistically afford to pay double (or more) for free-range/organic chicken/eggs. I mean, £12.00 for a free-range chicken, versus 2 for £5.00 battery? It is a shame we cannot all afford to price the battery hen out of the market

Free range chickens do not cost £12

At least, the ones I get don't. I bought one last weekend and it was £6 - and it was a big chicken.

Edit: as others have said, if you pay a higher price you are much more careful about using the whole bird and not wasting it.

well I am on benefits, and I buy free range, locally raised at £6 for a medium to large bird, ie: it feeds three as a roast, makes a curry, and also a rissotto later in the week, all for 6 quid
if thats not affordable, then i don't know what people want.
a cheap chicken may be 2 for a fiver, but i bet you cant get 3 meals out of one by the time all the water has cooked out

The part that depressed me the most was the gassing of the male chicks

There's no way I could give up chicken, but I'll definitely be buying free range chicken from now on (then again, I live in catered accomodation, so god knows where the meat's come from). I've always found Jamie Oliver a tad annoying and preachy in the past, but I actually found myself liking him during this programme. It's good that he's getting the facts across.

is it wrong that none of these chicken shows have had an effect on me at all and ill still be buying my cheap chicken

if you have to ask, then i think you already know the answer.

Jamie was on breakfast tv this morning and explained that the show had been pre recorded.

I gotta give my admiration to Jamie Oliver, i think its great what hes doing because despite any other issues, he is getting the message out there that this is what happens. I think its important for us to know where our meat comes from.

If i wasnt vegetarian i would definitely buy free range, and now i'm going to check the labels of my free range eggs and perhaps even buy organic milk because i've heard the process of getting milk is just as bad as the chickens.

Good for you, my friend. its bullshit when people say they cant afford to pay a little more. I'm a student but vegetarian, though even if i wasnt i'd make a conscious effort to buy free range meat, even probably try find a local butchers or something rather than a supermarket. I think its great you put morals before anything,

And at the end of the day its all about quality. Free range always tastes better.

Why has this thread been moved?? Its a discussion as a result of a televised show, not a random thread about a food item