Agriculture - Choose a well-bred chicken

Drifting ice floe, Antartica

By breeding fowl using growth-promoting drugs and antibiotics, farmers have succeeded in decreasing the average amount of time it takes to produce an average 2.2 kilogram chicken, from 84 days in 1950 to 50 days today. Living conditions for these battery-raised animals are crowded and grim; these birds never even see the light of day. Recently, free-range and organically-raised chicken has become more widely available as an alternative, although organic farmers in the UK may keep flocks of up to 12,000 birds, in line with European Union standards. Instead, seek out organic and free-range chickens and eggs marked with the more stringent Soil Association label. These animals live in flocks of no more than 2,000 and ideally no bigger than 500 birds. Their diet includes organic grain, but no drugs. While more expensive to produce, humanely raised chickens are healthier and they taste better.
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Consider reducing your meat consumption and replace quantity with quality. Think about how that inexpensive, intensively raised roast came to market and treat yourself to the somewhat more costly, but much happier organic bird. Choose meat, dairy products and eggs bearing the Soil Association, IOFGA, or Organic Farmers and Growers mark. www.irishorganic.ie/ www.organicfarmers.uk.com/