Anyone else think there is something wrong with commercial chickens being grown from chicks to fryer size in 7 weeks?

[testdepth]

I have a friend who's uncle has a large chicken farm and he works for Tyson, Purdue and others. He raises 85000 chickens at a time and says they go from chick to fryer in 7 weeks. I raised our own chickens and they didn't grow that fast naturally so what are they putting in the feed?

 

[palmettomoon]

I have a friend who's uncle has a large chicken farm and he works for Tyson, Purdue and others. He raises 85000 chickens at a time and says they go from chick to fryer in 7 weeks. I raised our own chickens and they didn't grow that fast naturally so what are they putting in the feed?

Hormones.

The chick suppliers for restaurant chains only want young tender breasts (who can blame them) for sandwiches and tenders. Not sure what they expect from the "growers" now. It's a nasty business.

 

[BHPSteel]

It's not necessarily the feed (although if they tailor the feed to the age of the chicks, that probably helps) - but it's in the genetics.

 

[Allsmiles]

Lights on 24/7 and all the food they can eat in chicken house. If you have even been in a chicken house, it's not something you forget easily.

 

[JBWJr]

5 weeks now at most Gainesville plants.

 

[testdepth]

He says his uncle operates the plant, picks up the dead birds and the rest is automated. Feed is supplied by the company he contracts with so there's no telling what's in it.

 

[palmettomoon]

He says his uncle operates the plant, picks up the dead birds and the rest is automated. Feed is supplied by the company he contracts with so there's no telling what's in it.

If memory serves, the company drops off the chicks after sexing and the "grower" feeds and chickensits them until pickup for processing.

 

[streetroc]

Meh, whatever. Just keep the Publix boneless skinless chicken breasts at $4.99lb and don't tell me where it comes from.

 

[Hogdaddy]

I used to know a guy who had two chicken houses.. he said at a certain time before the birds were taken to the processor he was to give them something called "reducer"...he said it with a wink..wink..nod..nod....wonder what they are reducing....this was about 10 years ago..

 

[geezer]

The rats at chicken houses(tyson) are unusually large as well....Go figure...