Guest Wolfie Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Has anyone been watching the Hugh Fearnley -Wotsit programmes about chickens this week? I just wondered whether it's promoting as much discussion in other parts of the country as it is in ours? I watched all three programmes and thought that it made very good television and gave a lot of food for thought (sorry, no pun intended)! What does everyone think? Are you all abandoning the "2 for £5" Tesco chickens? It would be interesting to see how the nation buys chicken over the next week or so and whether any new trends appear, wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I watched it and thought it was very good Wolfie. Can't change my habit as I've bought free range chickens and eggs for years since I became aware of the way standard and battery chickens were kept. I must admit I have some sympathy with the people who said they couldn't afford free range chickens. Tesco free range are very reasonably priced but there are places which sell them for upwards of £16 and I can't really see how they expect a mass market at that sort of price. But the main issue I think is the 2 for 1 offers. As I understand it Tesco more or less blackmail their suppliers to foot the cost of these offers as a condition of stocking their products. Which means that 2 for 1 is really selling stock at or below the cost of production. In that case it is simply not possible to compete and that 'loss-leader' strategy ought to be illegal. (I reckon... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Not been mentioned in our staffroom I'm afraid. TV Topics this week are: Masterchef-pork chop with chocolate-weird CSI-the miniature killer-disappointing Shameless-very funny Darts-No Ben Foggle!!! Elephant diaries-sad Animal park-humbug baby ) General Alcohol-lack of it-how much we had at christmas Radley handbags Sale bargains as you can see we are a really shallow bunch and don't go in for deep meaningful discussions at lunch (unless of course the violin teacher (male) arrives and then we can have a VERY deep meaningful discussion about his virtues) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundia Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 thankfully I dont eat chicken, and have only ever bought local free range eggs. When we move house we are going to keep our own so I will know exactly what conditions they are kept in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 In theory I would buy free range chicken all the time, but as its the only meat Richard will eat I find myself buying the cheaper versions, although when I did buy organic the lads didnt like the taste, so it proves there is a difference! Hugh Wotsit is great. But I tried buying an organic chicken and using all the parts for more than one meal like he'd shown in one of his programmes, but no-one liked the thighs, so I wasted loads. I only buy breasts anyway as no-one will eat anything but white breast meat. I do always buy english meat of all kinds and NEVER the really cheap option even if it says english. Always buy free range organic eggs and organic milk, and organic beef. Seems strange that beef is cheaper than chicken I was pleased to hear that the Government are going to abolish battery hens in the near future, so hopefully that will make an even playing field on the cost. Probably make it all expensive but then at least I'd have no choice. Hope your hens lay well for you mundia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 yes have been watching it and its been the talk all week at work - i hate to admit as chicken is our main diet in our household i cannot afford to buy organic al;l the time but would prefer too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 (edited) I think it has been brilliant television..............I would only ever buy free range eggs, but have bought the cheaper chicken having such a big family and can't always the free range option, but having seen the reality of it all I would rather cut back in other areas and buy free range - I am converted. We are lucky I feel anyway, my husbands shoots and very often we eat free range pheasants, rabbits and allsorts - the meat is always lovely. Edited January 11, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I buy free range. One of my concerns is the implications of routinely "feeding" intensively reared animals antibiotics etc to keep them "healthy". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacq250 Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I watched all the programs and am converted to free range. I'm ashamed to say I hadn't ever really thought about how chickens lived before. I'm looking forward to watching Jamie's program too, which I am recording at the moment as my husband is watching a load of men playing rugby in bright pink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 oh dear Jamies programme those poor chicks!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 oh dear Jamies programme those poor chicks!!!!! Yeah its sad that they have to gas the male ones But then it has answered my question as to why there are so many cockerals at the chicken roundabout in Bungay Suffolk http://www.flickr.com/photos/belowred/3441...rmalfornorfolk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Missed the Hugh Wotsit programme...but watched Jamie last night. It has made me really think..I usually buy the 'cheap' eggs but now I'm going buy free range. Like Hali said I will cut back in other ways...not so many chocolates..that way I'm helping the chickens and myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I'm a vegetarian and have always bought free range eggs, even when we were so hard up and buying the cheapest of other options such as bread and cereal. It has been one area that I have never compromised on - no free range then no eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 As a "country girl" we always kept chickens ducks and geese at home hens were kept for eggs plus one cockerel (for obvious reasons) and any other male off springs ended up on the dinner table. At least we knew they were fresh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I eat very littler meat (but couldn't go without my roast dinners!) so decided a while ago that I would buy organic/free range when I do buy meat. It does cost a bit more but I can eat it relatively guilt free! I think there will be a rush on organic chicken after the programs this week though! Did anyone else get the letter from sainsburys explaining about their ranges of eggs and chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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