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 Andale Kansas,
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. Andale
Kansas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Andale Kansas, 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 Andale KS.
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Andale Kansas
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
Andale Kansas * 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 Andale
Kansas * 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
Andale Kansas 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 Andale,
Kansas Baby chicks are very
adorable and also
difficult to resist,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct products, however
likewise the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you merely have to supply them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food and also water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your habitat can be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You also need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
offer them with a warmth source.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function effectively (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and weekly this can
be lowered by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The warmth source need to get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you should
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linens
frequently and also
constantly supply clean
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires a lot of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient whatsoever times and inspect
often to
stop thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not occupy that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will most
likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
enjoy their actions, you can
capture health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as move outside into a cage. Look into our
part on chicken coops to learn more
concerning coops as well as
correct cage environments.