Chicken Farmers of Canada
In this second part of our three part series of posts, we tell you what happens after chicks arrive to the farm from the hatchery and what exactly is in chicken feed.
Chickens in Canada are raised in clean, well-ventilated, climate-controlled barns, where they can roam freely. The chicken barn is heated before the chicks are placed, in order to ensure they have warm, comfortable surroundings once they arrive from the hatchery. Feed systems and water lines are checked daily to ensure that birds always have unrestricted access to food and water. Heating, ventilation, humidity and other environmental levels are verified constantly, to ensure that the birds are comfortable and stress-free.
The main ingredient of all chicken feed (88%) is grains and grain by-products, protein-producing seeds, and meal made from them such as canola or soybean meal. So, essentially, all chickens are “grain-fed.” In much smaller quantities (around 10%), various other protein sources such as meat and bone meal/vegetable fats, are added to improve the nutritional content, taste and texture of the feed. In much, much smaller quantities (1.5%), mineral and vitamin supplements are commonly added to prevent any nutrient deficiencies.
Chickens are not given any hormones or steroids. Hormones and steroid use in Canada has been illegal since the 1960s. Moreover, chicken is tested by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure that there are absolutely no medication residues that could cause any risk to human health.
In the final installment of this three part series, we talk about animal safety and how the chickens get from the farm to the consumer.
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