Yes, you read that right. In the two minutes or so it will
take you to read the rest of this blog, over 35,000 chickens will be killed in
the United States for food. So let’s dive into what life is like for chickens raised
and killed on today’s farms.
take you to read the rest of this blog, over 35,000 chickens will be killed in
the United States for food. So let’s dive into what life is like for chickens raised
and killed on today’s farms.
At factory farms chickens raised for meat, also known as
“broilers, are crammed by the tens of thousands into filthy, windowless sheds.
To maximize profits, farmers breed the chickens to grow so quickly that they often become immobilized under their own weight. This abuse
results in debilitating pain, heart attacks, organ failure, and other severe
health problems. Because they’re too large to stand or walk, the birds are
forced to sit in their own waste. This turns factory farms into breeding
grounds for disease.
“broilers, are crammed by the tens of thousands into filthy, windowless sheds.
To maximize profits, farmers breed the chickens to grow so quickly that they often become immobilized under their own weight. This abuse
results in debilitating pain, heart attacks, organ failure, and other severe
health problems. Because they’re too large to stand or walk, the birds are
forced to sit in their own waste. This turns factory farms into breeding
grounds for disease.
The deplorable conditions of factory farms and
slaughterhouses result in meat contaminated with deadly pathogens. In fact, the
USDA estimates that around 25 percent of cut-up chicken meat and about 50 percent of all ground chicken is contaminated with salmonella. Additionally,
a USDA report revealed that 90 percent of defects discovered in chicken
carcasses at slaughter plants involved “visible fecal contamination that was missed by company
employees.”
slaughterhouses result in meat contaminated with deadly pathogens. In fact, the
USDA estimates that around 25 percent of cut-up chicken meat and about 50 percent of all ground chicken is contaminated with salmonella. Additionally,
a USDA report revealed that 90 percent of defects discovered in chicken
carcasses at slaughter plants involved “visible fecal contamination that was missed by company
employees.”
At slaughter, chickens are violently shackled upside down,
painfully shocked with electricity, and cut open at the throat—often while still conscious and able to feel pain.
painfully shocked with electricity, and cut open at the throat—often while still conscious and able to feel pain.
While all farmed animals experience tremendous
suffering, chickens lead some of the most miserable lives of all farmed
animals and make up 95 percent of the animals raised and killed for
food in the United States.
suffering, chickens lead some of the most miserable lives of all farmed
animals and make up 95 percent of the animals raised and killed for
food in the United States.
To make matters worse, not a single federal law provides protection to animals
during their lives at factory farms. What’s more, the law that’s supposed to
protect animals at slaughterhouses, the Humane Slaughter Act, doesn’t extend to
birds, leaving chickens with virtually no protection from abuse.
during their lives at factory farms. What’s more, the law that’s supposed to
protect animals at slaughterhouses, the Humane Slaughter Act, doesn’t extend to
birds, leaving chickens with virtually no protection from abuse.
Mercy For Animals has conducted multiple undercover investigations into the world’s largest chicken producer, Tyson Foods. MFA’s most recent Tyson investigation at
a farm in Tennessee shows thousands of birds living in unconscionable
conditions and being thrown around and beaten.
a farm in Tennessee shows thousands of birds living in unconscionable
conditions and being thrown around and beaten.
See for yourself.
Chickens are incredibly intelligent creatures, with the same capacity to feel pain and suffering as
the dogs and cats with whom we share our homes. Although some might not
consider them as cute and cuddly as other farmed animals, they are individuals
with needs and desires that shouldn’t be disregarded.
the dogs and cats with whom we share our homes. Although some might not
consider them as cute and cuddly as other farmed animals, they are individuals
with needs and desires that shouldn’t be disregarded.
Fortunately, we can take a stand for all animals subjected
to cruel factory farm conditions by switching to a compassionate vegan diet. Click here to get started!
to cruel factory farm conditions by switching to a compassionate vegan diet. Click here to get started!
Click here for a list of delicious vegan
chicken substitutes.
chicken substitutes.
