She Strengthens

The Hidden Truth Behind Factory-Farmed Chicken

As consumers become increasingly aware of the dark side of the poultry industry, many are seeking alternatives to traditional factory-farmed chicken. The good news is that cruelty-free and organic options are more affordable than you might think.

The Problems with Factory Farming

The U.S. poultry industry has been under scrutiny for years, and for good reason. The system prioritizes efficiency over quality, leading to a litany of dubious practices. Chickens are bred to be unnaturally large and are fed antibiotics to prevent illness, which is often caused by dismal living conditions. The result is a system that produces unhealthy birds, harms consumers, and devastates the environment.

The Unreported Problem: Agricultural Practices

The impact of industrial agriculture on the environment cannot be overstated. To feed the massive number of chickens raised each year, enormous quantities of GMO row crops are required, leading to soil degradation, pollution, and the overuse of chemicals. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 26% of the earth’s ice-free land is used for livestock grazing, while 33% is used for growing feed.

A Better Way: Humane and Sustainable Poultry Farms

Companies like Cooks Venture are leading the charge towards more humane and sustainable poultry farming practices. By employing regenerative farming methods, Cooks Venture aims to reduce the environmental impact of poultry farming while providing healthier, more nutritious birds. Their heirloom chickens are raised on quality feed, air-chilled, pasture-raised, and Animal Welfare Certified.

Decoding Chicken Labels

With so many labels to choose from, it can be difficult to know what to look for. Here are some key labels to consider:

• Certified Humane: This label represents a significant improvement over conventional standards, ensuring outdoor access, more space, and better living conditions.
• Animal Welfare Certified: This six-level rating program prohibits cage confinement, hormones, and subtherapeutic antibiotics, and ensures higher welfare standards.
• Organic: While this label ensures the chickens were fed a certified organic diet, it does not necessarily mean better living conditions or humane practices.
• No Antibiotics or Raised Without Antibiotics: This label means the chickens were not routinely given preventative antibiotics, but may still have received them if they became ill.

Where to Buy Humanely Raised and Organic Chicken Online

If you’re concerned about eating humanely raised chicken, your best bet is to find a good farm or producer and buy online. Here are some top options:

• Cooks Venture: Get G.A.P Animal Welfare Certified heirloom chickens directly from Cooks Venture’s website for as little as $15.
• Crowd Cow: This meat delivery service offers certified organic chicken breasts for under $16.
• D’Artagnan: This specialty food store sells certified humane, air-chilled, antibiotic-free, and pasture-raised chicken for $33.
• Smart Chicken: Certified Organic Smart chickens are fed an organic grain diet, are free-range, and certified humane by the Humane Farm Animal Care.
• Murray’s Chicken: This farm in upstate New York has been providing antibiotic and hormone-free, certified humane chicken since 1992.
• Applegate: This brand uses organic chicken in all their products, but note only the chicken hot dogs are G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified.
• ButcherBox: All of this online butcher’s chicken is G.A.P Animal Welfare Certified, and can be ordered as part of a monthly box.