Chicken is widely eaten across the globe on a daily basis. It’s the entire business model for KFC! But the question is, how on earth is that much chicken even produced? Well, the answer is rather simple: broilers. There is a breed of chicken that is completely white. We call this breed Broiler Chickens because they can go from a newly hatched chick to a full-grown chicken in the span of 4-5 weeks. That’s faster than most animals take to learn how to walk! Furthermore, the process of growing Broiler Chickens has become so streamlined that it can be followed in steps:
Broiler Chickens: The Eggs
The company first procures female breeder chicks, called “Pullets”, to produce the eggs. Chicks are generally cheaper than hens and roosters, so it can be considered a cost-saving measure among other things. At about 20 weeks, they join their fellow hen and roosters to produce the fertile eggs required for the process. The eggs are then collected and sent to hatcheries where they are incubated and then hatched into chicks.
The Chicks
The chicks move on from the hatcheries to local family farms where they are raised in barns. These barns are no ordinary animal houses, but host advanced heating and ventilation and provide ample and clean feed for the chickens to eat as well as plenty of space for them to move around. All of this is under the inspection and care of a veterinarian that monitors the health of the chickens and their growth.
The Chickens
Once the chicks grow into chickens, the ones that meet a certain weight criterion (4-7 pounds) are selected to be moved onto the next process. The remainder is waited on to enter the appropriate weight range. After a certain point, however, they are moved onto the next stage, regardless of their weight. Now that the chickens have been moved from the farmhouses to the processing plants, it’s time to slaughter them. Processing plants deal with the chickens very professionally and get the process of slaughter done as quickly, cleanly, and humanely as possible. The meat is thoroughly washed and cleaned, after which it is chilled and packaged. After a final inspection by the USDA, the chicken meat is ready to head toward the supermarket.
Because of how streamlined the process of growing and slaughtering chickens has become and the scale of the operations, chicken is an affordable way to have a nourishing and nutritious meal. Though their lifespan is very short, Broiler Chickens are raised for the singular purpose of slaughter. Given that reasoning, it’s only humane to end their life as soon as possible. Furthermore, even though we have the best heating, ventilation, and feed we have ever had for the sustenance of these chickens, their lifespans are generally very short, and keeping them alive for any longer than that would be akin to forcing a 110-year-old man to live when he has lost most of his physical ability due to his age.
FAQs
What is the lifespan of a broiler chicken?
A broiler chicken’s lifespan is shorter than an egg-laying hen’s. A broiler chicken has a lifespan of only 5 to 7 weeks. On the other hand, an egg-laying chicken can live for one year.
Do chickens remember things?
Chickens pass information to other flock members about their experiences, whether good or bad, with the faces they are familiar with. Chickens also have vivid dreams, like dogs and cats, who occasionally act like they’re pursuing something while sleeping.
What is the gender of a broiler chicken?
Broiler chickens exist in both genders, male and female. They do not lay eggs but provide meat worldwide; the same story is true.
Can chickens cry?
They don’t have tear ducts. Hence, they are unable to weep. To keep the eye clean and moist, chickens have a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane.
What is the food of broiler chickens?
To attain market weight, a broiler chicken has to consume 1 kilogram of starter, 1.5 kg of the grower, and 1.5 kg of the finisher.
What quickly kills chickens?
There are different enemies of broiler chickens, like cats, dogs, and other predators, that feed on their meat.
Do hens require water at night?
At night, chickens often do not require food or water. Chickens won’t usually come out of bed at night to feed and drink; instead, they’ll stay on their roost until daylight. A chicken leaving the protection of the roost to do so becomes less likely, given they have poor night vision.
Which antibiotic works best on chickens?
It depends on the infection caused by bacteria in the broilers, but bacitracin virginiamycin is the best for broilers according to their body size and nature.
Which diseases can affect the broilers?
Chickens can catch different diseases, but the most common and fatal ones in broiler chickens are virulent Newcastle disease, fowl pox, coccidiosis, and many others.
Do tomatoes poison chickens?
While tomatoes are healthy for chickens to eat when they are red and juicy, their unripe form includes the dangerous chemical selinene. Remember that tomatoes’ leaves and stems are both nightshade family members and contain the same toxin.
