Tessa the Duchess Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 BIG two page spread in the Times today talking about Jamie's upcoming programme about battery chickens. Pics and comparisons of conditions and prices of battery vs freerange/organic chickens. Worth a look. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Here it is http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article3103498.ece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted December 29, 2007 Author Share Posted December 29, 2007 Thanks Jules, was hoping some clever person would do this Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 It was strange, though, that the article is illustrated with pictures of caged egg laying hens while it is all about intensive rearing of meat chickens. I know that's pedantic but it was almost style ruining substance for me. It's taken me a while but I think I've finally persuaded dh that paying around £10 for a decent sized free range chicken from the butchers is more acceptable than getting an enormous super chicken from Tesco for £6. The taste of free range whole birds is so good I don't think I could ever buy an intensive one again. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I couldn't see any pictures (except the one of Jamie) . I thought it sad that 13 weeks is deemed "having a long, full life" . I didn't get my girls till they were 17 and 19 weeks - I considered them babies . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I couldn't see any pictures Probably just in print then, haven't looked online. I was also shocked at how little extra time 'slow growing' breeds get - like you, my girls were only 16 weeks and still growing when I got them. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 we don't buy whole chickens as there's too much waste IMO, we tend to buy breasts. What we find with free range meat is that it goes further as it's not pumped full of water, which evaporates on contact with the pan and your meat magically shrinks! In our ignorant days, we used to use 2 cheap chicken breasts for a stir fry for 2 people. With free range breasts, we only need to use one breast so, IMO, it's worth twice the price as it goes further, tastes nicer and I can eat it with an almost clear conscience (I still wish I was a veggie ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 my husband and father work with poultry for a local Devon company. The program was filmed at the hatchery where my dad manages and also shows the progress of the little chooks out onto the big farms (which includes organic, free range and standard chicken houses) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I couldn't see any pictures (except the one of Jamie) . . He is everywhere, pontificating on anything and everything. He is in the latest edition of Gardener's World with a year's vegetable planter. I'm afraid I'm beginning to think that he will put his name to anything - presumably if there is money attached. Her indoors says I'm just a terrible cynic; she thinks he's great (although she calls him an Essex Boy ... ) Maybe I am just a cynic .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I was shocked at how young chickens are slaughtered, I still think of Spice as a baby at 20 weeks. I'm glad I'm veggie. As for Jamie, I have to admit I'm a little cynical, but I still like watching him, and at least he is making some people more aware of what they are eating. In this age of celebrity, it needs Jamie's, Hugh's and Gordon's to persuade some people to think about things, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Maybe I am just a cynic .... yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I was shocked at how young chickens are slaughtered, I still think of Spice as a baby at 20 weeks. I'm glad I'm veggie. I agree, most standard chicken are slaughtered at less than 40 days old. Organic and free range are mostly longer - some up to 56 days old, poor little chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I've just read in my new Gardeneer's World Magazine that Jamie Oliver will be writing in next month's magazine about how to keep chickens. I'm torn between being amazed at his versatility and irritated at this need for people on TV to move into other areas to keep their profile up. Mind you, I might write in and see if they'll give me a list of chicken-proof plants!! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 It was strange, though, that the article is illustrated with pictures of caged egg laying hens while it is all about intensive rearing of meat chickens. I know that's pedantic but it was almost style ruining substance for me. It's taken me a while but I think I've finally persuaded dh that paying around £10 for a decent sized free range chicken from the butchers is more acceptable than getting an enormous super chicken from Tesco for £6. The taste of free range whole birds is so good I don't think I could ever buy an intensive one again. Jo Jo, do you have a farmers' market near you? You may well find them cheaper than the butcher - ours certainly is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Jo, do you have a farmers' market near you? You may well find them cheaper than the butcher - ours certainly is. We do have a monthly one nearby but I must admit I'm a bit funny about buying meat from a market stall where it doesn't appear to be refrigerated. We also have a local free range farm that sells free range chicken. It's fabulous but usually only available frozen and it takes forever to defrost frozen whole chickens! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 That's a shame - our market will get their meat straight from the freezer if you ask, but most of them bring portable chillers with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...