Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[likeastar--x]

todays one year since we decided to get chickens - a year ago we saw a programme by hugh from river cottage about battery farming and free ranging where he did an experiment to see the differences between the two. it was really upsetting and really opened our eyes and we suddenly felt really bad for buying cheap eggs so we decided to produce our own! did anyone else see this programme??

[alih]

yes it was wonderful wasn't it? He is great and so committed....

[Lewis]

I think so, was it the one with one big chicken shed, and there was a divide, battery one side, free range the other?

[Redwing]

It was a great programme but I did think it was a shame when the lady who had been keeping chickens on an allotment as part of an experiement was then seen in Tesco buying bargain chicken!

 

I guess you can't win them all!

[Lewis]

I can't believe that was a year ago!

It doesn't seem that long!

[ScottishMike]

It was a great programme but I did think it was a shame when the lady who had been keeping chickens on an allotment as part of an experiement was then seen in Tesco buying bargain chicken!

 

I guess you can't win them all!

 

that came down to budget though, didn't it?

 

not many folks on here rear chickens for the roasting tray, do they?

 

I realy appreciate what Hugh FW does to try and bring people back into touch with where their food comes from, but he's fighting a losing battle, and not many people could afford to go down the 'River Cottage' route

 

Maybe more of a focus on what IS acheivable on a small scale - like keeping hens for their eggs

[Egluntyne]

Remarkable to think that Hugh's campaign started a year ago.

 

I wonder how many people took to hen keeping as a direct result?

[Steve.]

Remarkable to think that Hugh's campaign started a year ago.

 

I wonder how many people took to hen keeping as a direct result?

 

I watched the program after getting chooks. I was aware of the fuss caused by the campaign. Though wasn't a contributor to our decision to get chooks.

[Patricia7455]

Before that programme I used to buy the cheaper chickens in Sainsbury's but it opened my eyes to what goes on. Since that programme all the chicken we have bought for the table have been free range, and I try to buy products that only contain free range eggs or chicken. I also think that even if you are on a low budget you can, (if you want to enough) avoid buying the cheaper chicken by re-thinking your menu.

 

I strongly suspect that some people who say that they buy cheaper chicken for budget reasons buy other non-essentials that bump up the bill, and this of course is their choice. I was heart broken when I saw those poor chickens in that shed. I would sooner not eat meat than buy a chicken that was not free range, again.

[Clash City Rocker]

I had a trip to River Cottage last June (B'day Present) and it was a real eye opener for me, I already had the chickens but had never thought about "growing my own" veg etc.

Since watching this years River Cottage - Autumn series, I've took the plunge and have just installed 3 Raised beds ready for planting next Spring, bought a "cheapo" Greenhouse and have registered with HFW's land-share scheme.

[New Girl]

I wonder how many people took to hen keeping as a direct result?

 

I did!! I watched those programmes and although I disagree with the factory farming for meat, they only live like that for 39 days.

 

My biggest problem was battery hens living in cages for over a year. After the HFW programme with Jamie Oliver on battery hens I decided to get my own and never buy non free range again. I managed to get my girls in June and love them to bits even with their bald bottoms!! I have to admit, even though I try to buy free range chicken, budget forces me to eat cheap chicken

[tara]

Before that programme I used to buy the cheaper chickens in Sainsbury's but it opened my eyes to what goes on. Since that programme all the chicken we have bought for the table have been free range, and I try to buy products that only contain free range eggs or chicken. I also think that even if you are on a low budget you can, (if you want to enough) avoid buying the cheaper chicken by re-thinking your menu.

 

I strongly suspect that some people who say that they buy cheaper chicken for budget reasons buy other non-essentials that bump up the bill, and this of course is their choice. I was heart broken when I saw those poor chickens in that shed. I would sooner not eat meat than buy a chicken that was not free range, again.

 

 

Im a vegertarian and l very much agree with you 100% animals need a better deal.Things must change but they never seem to. Slaughter houses need glass wall.As well as the sheds animals are kept in.

[alexgirl73]

Before that programme I used to buy the cheaper chickens in Sainsbury's but it opened my eyes to what goes on. Since that programme all the chicken we have bought for the table have been free range, and I try to buy products that only contain free range eggs or chicken. I also think that even if you are on a low budget you can, (if you want to enough) avoid buying the cheaper chicken by re-thinking your menu.

 

I strongly suspect that some people who say that they buy cheaper chicken for budget reasons buy other non-essentials that bump up the bill, and this of course is their choice. I was heart broken when I saw those poor chickens in that shed. I would sooner not eat meat than buy a chicken that was not free range, again.

 

 

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you there. Of course I would love to buy free range chicken all the time, but I simply cannot afford to. We don't drink, smoke or go out. But we live on a very tight budget. I buy mostly asda smart price food, and their whoopsies when they have them, but when it comes to meat, I can't afford to pay £2- £3 extra for a free range animal, as much as I would dearly like to. That £2-£3 can pay for another 2 days meals for our family. Obviously in an ideal world all animals would be free range and no one would have the heartbreaking choice to make, but unfortunatley this is real life, and such sweeping statements can be very hurtful

[tara]

Being a veggie the food prices are really expenice.I do feel you can buget as we have to veggie food dose not come in a value range.I know these times are hard but nothing would ever make me spend money on an animalS that lived badly and was not respected.But these are just my views and l do respect other peoples also for there choice.

[RubyReckless]

I agree, Tara. I became veggie when i was very, very broke. I'd rather not eat meat at all than eat cheap meat. When i could afford meat again, i'd just gone off the texture and didn't bother.

 

Now we buy meat for DP and the kids from time to time, but only free range organic meat (pork, beef or chicken). I'm happier to do more cheap veggie meals (lentil chilli, pasta sauces etc) to fund ethically reared meat than to serve meat daily but have it come from factory farms.

 

I am utterly delighted Hellmans now use only free range eggs in their mayo - Now don't have to walk the mile to M&S to get mayo when we run out!

 

You choose where your moral and ethical boundaries lie, and live within them, I think. If something is important enough to you, you make the effort. (for example, i know people who claim they don't have tiome to read, yet have time to watch soaps. I, on the other hand, don't have time to iron but do have time to piddle away on the internet... )

[Lesley]

I agree, Tara. I became veggie when i was very, very broke. I'd rather not eat meat at all than eat cheap meat. When i could afford meat again, i'd just gone off the texture and didn't bother.

 

Now we buy meat for DP and the kids from time to time, but only free range organic meat (pork, beef or chicken). I'm happier to do more cheap veggie meals (lentil chilli, pasta sauces etc) to fund ethically reared meat than to serve meat daily but have it come from factory farms.

 

I am utterly delighted Hellmans now use only free range eggs in their mayo - Now don't have to walk the mile to M&S to get mayo when we run out!

 

You choose where your moral and ethical boundaries lie, and live within them, I think. If something is important enough to you, you make the effort. (for example, i know people who claim they don't have tiome to read, yet have time to watch soaps. I, on the other hand, don't have time to iron but do have time to piddle away on the internet... )

 

 

I agree, it all comes down to choices. Thirty odd years ago my husband left me with a three year old and a one year old and I lived on benefits for a couple of years. This was in the days before everything was done to help single parents and it was really difficult. I made the choice then to only eat decent food, home cooked, and less meat. I used a local butcher and would buy 8 sausages - 6 for a meal of two each and two over which would make a casserole lasting another 2 days. Or, 6 thin slices of liver..... or lambs hearts.........and a decent chicken could last the best part of a week.

 

The butcher soon knew the three of us and would give us the very, very, end of the leg of lamb for nothing.....a couple of those each made an excellent roast.

 

We just ate more vegetables and moved towards vegetarianism by choice, not out of necessity. I was vegetarian for 25 years and only eat meat now because we grow it ourselves - I'm still veggie when out unless the provenance of food can be proved. My children both grew up as eventual meat eaters but both know how to cope with a limited income and a food budget.

 

I think Hugh is right to make people think.....if they only change one thing....it all helps.

[tara]

I agree, Tara. I became veggie when i was very, very broke. I'd rather not eat meat at all than eat cheap meat. When i could afford meat again, i'd just gone off the texture and didn't bother.

 

Now we buy meat for DP and the kids from time to time, but only free range organic meat (pork, beef or chicken). I'm happier to do more cheap veggie meals (lentil chilli, pasta sauces etc) to fund ethically reared meat than to serve meat daily but have it come from factory farms.

 

I am utterly delighted Hellmans now use only free range eggs in their mayo - Now don't have to walk the mile to M&S to get mayo when we run out!

 

You choose where your moral and ethical boundaries lie, and live within them, I think. If something is important enough to you, you make the effort. (for example, i know people who claim they don't have tiome to read, yet have time to watch soaps. I, on the other hand, don't have time to iron but do have time to piddle away on the internet... )

 

 

Thankyou its nice not to be alone in the way animals are kept.We eat alot of the quorn range plus other bits.Its not easy as we are on a buget but its well worth it and l could never eat meat ever again and feel sick when l see dead animals in tesco morrison or iceland ect.But l hope im setting a good example to my children to care about animals and we are in the day an age that we do have choice and we choose what they are reguarding food.Not to even mention all the bad stuff in the cheap stuff any way.