Post on Humane treatment of Poultry

This week a YouTube video was released of one farmer's account of what the conditions of the inside of HIS houses were like. I watched the video. The farmer in the video blamed the company he grows for, for the deplorable conditions of his birds.

What was most upsetting, for me, after watching this video is besides all the false information shared, many of the points this farmer made were completely avoidable. Houses are climate controlled and are (or supposed to be) cleaned between each flock. If your birds are panting and have sores on their feet, YOU, as the farmer — AS THEIR CARETAKER — are doing something wrong.

Also, genetic deformities happen, all poultry farmers are instructed how to humanely cull their birds. Our houses are walked through twice a day, the dead are picked up, those that need to be culled are, and the overall health of each house is assessed and documented. Any problems are immediately addressed.

Even when someone is not in the houses, the chickens best interest are being looked out for. Various sensors detect a variety elements of in the houses, the second anything varies from what it should be the sensors tell a computer and the computer calls my husband. If he doesn't answer the call, the computer then calls my Mother-in-Law, then my father-in-law and so on and so forth until it gets a hold of someone to let them know, 'Yo! Things are not all bueno up in hurrr!'

My point, growing for a company or not, the farmer is ultimately responsible for the health of his flock and what was in that video is NOT what should be happening inside a chicken house.

If you have a concern about something, reach out to your local farmers. I promise, they want to talk to YOU, too.