Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tonight 9pm

[Flummery]

I have just been to Tesco's and bought my first ever free range chicken!!!

It better be good, as it was approximately twice the price of other similar sized birds!

Nearly fell into the trap of buying an organic chicken though! After giving it some thought I decided an organic chicken could still be intensively reared , 17 birds to the square metre,in a stinking barn with lights on most of the time, the only difference being it's food was organic!

Even bought free range eggs as well........... not only free range but locally produced free range!!(big pat on the back smillie!)

Looking forward to final installment tonight!

We get free range eggs from our village shop Snadger. Even the supermarket FR eggs are a disappointment after eating those. You won't believe the flavour.

Hope you enjoy the chick!

[Protea]

the experiment that hugh is doing at the moment i can see only one problem in that he has 2000 plus intensivly reard chickens that will be culled in 39 days but he can't sell them to anyone as that would make him the same as the farmer , or throw them away after slaughter as that would be even worse and undo all his good work so where does he plan to put these birds as i don't think he will be able to rear them as free range after the program.

I'm guessing he will be able to sell them, and probably to a wholesaler rather tha direct to a supermarket. He wouldn't be rearing that many birds without being able to sell them - the cost would be too prohibitive (and he will already be making a massive loss on this experiment)

[jaykay]

I'd like to ask if anyone knows whether free range chicken is nutritionally superior to the other sort? I have watched the programmes with interest and know the objective of the series is to raise awareness of ethical issues, but I have wondered about the nutritional side. I have switched to free range chicken because it tastes better, goes further and stores well (in freezer) but haven't compared the labels. Must add this one to my 'to do' list!

[carlseawolf]

but if he sends these chickens to a whole saler then they will be slaughted and sent to supermarkets.

[lozza_9]

I did not realise a organic chicken can be treated the same, just different food.

Loz

[sewer rat]

I suppose that by definition, an organic chicken could be treated the same but I think you'd be hard pressed to find an organic certifying body that would allow this.
Most organic chicken production is free-range.

[johnty greentoes]

Full marks to Hugh, wonderful series of programmes, compelling, contradictory, difficult, challenging, engaging... top dollar.

[piskieinboots]

and he deffo didn't call Martin an a*sehole!

[kirsty b]

I thoroughly enjoyed all these programmes even though they made for uncomfortable viewing at times.

[HeyWayne]

and he deffo didn't call Martin an a*sehole!

I don't think I've ever heard anyone with less conviction in their voice than Martin.

[Nicos]

So far I've only seen the first 2 programmes but I hope the effect on the general public makes a difference to supply and demand!

How many people pick off the left-overs and boil the bones after eating the meat and add it to soup or veg stew to make the bird go further?

I noticed in the second programme that the bloke who made all that gravy seemed to be eating a whole chicken to himself at one sitting??????
I though we were only supposed to eat about 4oz of protein a day for a healthy diet?
With one chicken the size of the '2 for £5' I could make at least 8-10 wholesome meals by using the pickings and stock - and of course a pile of GYO veg.

Maybe we need a few more basic cookery programmes on the TV??

What is it with people wasting food???

[HeyWayne]

Education from an early age is the most likely successful solution. "Pester power" from child to parent is a very potent marketing tool - McDonalds have been doing it for years, as have many other companies.

Brand loyalty is easier to instill in someone if you breed familiarity from an early age - which is why companies like McDonalds do it. It's much tougher to get someone to switch from one product/brand to another if they've been used to it for a long time.

The same principal can be applied to Hugh's campaign.

"I believe the children are our future...."

Holy chit, did I just quote Whitney!?

Cost obviously keeps coming up, and I had to laugh at the foul mouthed bloke in the pub who "couldn't afford" the chicken, sat with his pint (and clealry not his first) in one hand, and cigarette in his other nicotene stained mitt.

[Polly Fouracre]

and he deffo didn't call Martin an a*sehole!

How many others did though!

[Shortie]

With one chicken the size of the '2 for £5' I could make at least 8-10 wholesome meals by using the pickings and stock - and of course a pile of GYO veg.

You eat ou GYO Nicos??

I'm a firm believer of rubber chicken myself... A roast, then pickings for curry / pies / stir fries / burgers etc... Just don't do the stock as we don't eat meals that use stock and we're not lovers of soup

[Alison]

I did not realise a organic chicken can be treated the same, just different food.

Loz

According to the Soil Association web site, all animals on organic farms live in free-range systems and are encouraged to roam outdoors and express their natural behaviour. Organic standards go further than the requirements for 'free-range' chickens in that they have more space and a generally better environment. All organic chickens are fed on a diet rich in organic cereals, which haven't been produced using pesticides and which is free of GM. Organic chickens can't be given routine doses of antibiotics which weakens an animal’s immune system and so increases the reliance on drugs.

However, unfortunately not all organic chickens are reared in the same way. The Soil Association insists on higher welfare standards for organic poultry than most other organic certifiers. Choosing a chicken with the Soil Association symbol means that they will have been reared to the following standards:

The birds are truly free range, spending more of their lives roaming outside
They are looked after in smaller flocks
They have better access to fresh grass and air
They have more space in their houses.

Note that quite a few of the supermarkets have their own, less onerous accreditation (eg T*sco). Morrison's defo do SA but they're nowhere near as good as the ones from my local farm shop.

See Animal health and welfare for further details.