On February 10, the New York Times released an opinion video featuring distressing footage from inside a chicken factory farm, shot by award-winning filmmaker and Mercy For Animals senior director of video production Shawn Bannon.
The never-before-seen footage shows tens of thousands of birds crammed into filthy sheds. Bred to grow very large very fast, some of these birds cannot even stand. These chickens sit on waste-soaked litter, their legs unnaturally splayed, unable to reach food or water.
Shawn has firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to stand inside a factory farm—something many of us can only imagine. He agreed to share his experience.
What was the first thing you noticed when you stepped inside the chicken shed?
The first thing I noticed was just how incredibly crowded it was. There was literally nowhere to walk—chickens wall to wall. And it was extremely dark, so you’re wondering, How am I even going to get in here to film what it’s like? I moved very slowly so I didn’t frighten the chickens, and they moved slowly in return and gave me some space. But then you get overwhelmed by an extremely strong smell. The floor is covered with chicken sh*t. The chickens can’t escape it; they have to live on their own waste. And it smells like ammonia and burns your nostrils and throat, going right through my protective mask. It just overtakes you. Within minutes, I could already feel the headache coming on. It was horrible.
How did the chickens react to your presence? Were they frightened? Curious?
I already knew before I walked in that if you scare one chicken, it’s like a chain reaction and will create a panic, so when you’re in a barn with nearly 20,000 chickens, you have to move very slowly. When you sit down and blend in with them, they are very, very curious. They were very friendly. It’s sad to see just how curious and friendly they are.
How long did you spend inside the chicken shed to capture this footage?
I was in there a couple of times. The first time, the farmer was doing their daily process of clearing out the chickens who had died since the previous day. These chickens are bred to be huge and to grow extremely quickly, and they’re living in horrid conditions, and a lot of chickens can die daily. So the farmer has to go and clear out their dead bodies, look for chickens who are injured, and euthanize them. That was extremely hard to be in there for that. One barn can take 40 minutes to walk through and clear out the dead, sometimes longer, depending on how many chickens have died. So yeah, the first time was 45 minutes. The second time I went in was about an hour. I was able to just sit, allow the chickens to be comfortable with my presence—more time to reflect, more time to kind of take in the atmosphere. I had a headache for days after.
Was there an especially powerful moment from your experience that has stuck with you?
Yeah, I was able to witness the catch process, where seven workers, a dozen semi trucks, and a forklift come and catch all the chickens to take them to slaughter. Well, they don’t take all the chickens. The ones who are too sick, too small, or ones who died during the catch process, they leave those chickens behind. So walking through those barns and seeing live birds huddled with dead chickens, chickens alive but barely able to move… One chicken whose body was just too big to stand was trying to use their wings to move. It was just heartbreaking. Being vegan for 25 years and witnessing that and seeing that this is how America gets a chicken sandwich at a fast-food restaurant, it messed me up.
What is one thing about factory farms you would like to share with those of us who will likely never step inside one?
All of us should be working to end factory farming. Whether you’re vegan, not vegan, it doesn’t matter. This is a horrible way to raise animals. No one deserves to live their life in a factory farm. We have to change.
The conditions Shawn captured on film are not unique to one farm. Chickens all over the country are packed into sheds and spend the entirety of their short lives in misery. Along with the release of this footage, Mercy For Animals launched a campaign called the Life of Chickens demanding that retailers do better. You can help ensure that grocery stores address this cruelty by taking action today.
You can also stand up for chickens by eating delicious plant-based foods. Download our free veg starter guide to learn more.
