I just saw the new misleading Perdue chicken TV commercial making a big fuss about their new USDA Process Verification.
I’ve only seen the commercial once so far, so I’m going on what I remember, details are fuzzy. I’ll update when I can review the commercial again.
Jim Perdue is having a press conference about the fact that Perdue chicken is the first to receive the USDA Process Verification. I remember hearing buzz words/phrases like “cage free”, “vegetarian fed”, “no growth hormones”! And then he closes the barn door, and there’s chickens sitting at little make-up tables with lights around the mirror, giving the impression that the chickens are superstars!
Here’s the REAL STORY.
What Does the USDA Process Verification Actually Mean?
At first, the pessimistic in me is thinking okay, Perdue pressured the USDA to create this verification process and applied even more pressure to make sure they were the first. Just sayin LOL
But here’s their official USDA Process Verification:
All Vegetarian Fed – Chickens are fed a high quality vegetarian diet, with no animal by-products. Raised Cage Free – Perdue chickens are free to roam within the chicken houses.
So, what does the verification mean? From :
“We feed our birds the finest natural grain products, including corn, soybeans and marigolds, with no animal byproducts,” says Perdue. Products carrying the Raised Cage Free claim are verified to come from birds that are free to move about within temperature-controlled chicken houses.
Big deal!
The official-sounding verification really means nothing in terms of humane treatment of animals, but I am sure that it won’t matter to consumers. People hear the phrases cage free and vegetarian fed, and they think they are doing a good thing by buying. I know, because I fell for it myself in the past!
They feed their chickens cheap GMO Genetically modified} soy and corn and their chickens don’t live in cages. They still can be cramped together (), and there is no stipulation for fresh air, outdoor access, lighting, etc.
Oh and they feed marigolds so the chicken skin turns a nice yellow color! But it does evoke a lovely scene of chickens roaming freely through fields of yellow flowers doesn’t it?
Sorry, but if Perdue is the first and only USDA Process Verified company, then I am sorry, but that just leads me to believe the whole verification process is bogus bull crap, actually make that bogus chicken crap.
Perdue’s Web Site Claims
Let’s take a look at some further details stated on about this prestigious recognition (insert smirk):
We’ve always known our PERDUE® chicken was good, but with our new USDA Process Verified seal, now we know it’s VERIFIABLY GOOD. Perdue is the FIRST poultry company to have a Process Verified seal. The seal verifies that the chickens have been raised without cages and fed an all-vegetarian diet. This means you can have full confidence in the way we raise our chickens. In taste tests,** we’ve also found that this means consumers prefer the taste of Perdue USDA Process Verified Chicken.
Boy that is a lot of congratulatory self-praise, a casual reader could possibly miss the actual verification details. Did you catch it?
The seal verifies that the chickens have been raised without cages and fed an all-vegetarian diet.
If you keep scanning down the web page, the content becomes even more misleading.
They list all these great USDA Defined Terms including “organic”, “Free range free roaming”, “No antibiotics”, “No hormones”, but why? Their verification has NOTHING to do with organic, free range, hormones or antibiotics, so why are these words being listed on this page? To perhaps confuse and mislead the public?
Anti-biotics vs Hormones and Steroids
Sometimes people misunderstand the words hormones and anti-biotics, thinking they are one in the same. I know I have been misled in the past when looking at labels.
Here is what Perdue states on their about anti-biotic usage:
Perdue does not use antibiotics for growth promotion in our chickens. We use antibiotics as directed by our company’s team of veterinarians, all of whom are board-certified by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. The antibiotics are used in stringent accordance with FDA and USDA guidelines. All PERDUE® products are free of harmful residues as determined by routine onsite USDA sampling.
They will always need to administer anti-biotics because their poor chickens are crammed together in small spaces, which means they are stressed, which means they will get sick!
I love the line
“All PERDUE® products are free of harmful residues as determined by routine onsite USDA sampling.”
Does the USDA think anti-biotics are harmful? Does this mean that any and all anti-biotic residues are acceptable because they are determined as safe?
PS: Perdue’s consistent claim for non-usage of hormones is bogus, because the USDA forbids usage in poultry and pork. But they still try to mislead the public whenever they can get away with it.
So, please when choosing products for your family’s table, don’t fall for silly verifications like this, even if it does come from the USDA. It’s just a load of chicken sh*t!
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Sunflower Alabama,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Sunflower
Alabama also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Sunflower Alabama, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Sunflower AL.
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Sunflower Alabama
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Sunflower Alabama * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Sunflower
Alabama * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Sunflower Alabama is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Sunflower,
Alabama Baby chicks are quite
adorable and
tough to withstand,
yet it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
right materials, but
also the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Interest as well as
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as every week this could
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat resource need to get on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your heat
light, you have to
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you have to put some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is key and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bedding
usually and
constantly offer clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which requires plenty of clean
food and water. Provide
sufficient at all times as well
as inspect
usually to avoid thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will most
likely bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
enjoy their habits, you can
catch ailment or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Make sure to
likewise consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted feathers and stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to find out
more
concerning cages as well as
correct cage habitats.