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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you cannot afford free range chicken/turkey meat and eggs...

755 replies

LolaTheShowgirl · 27/05/2009 09:31

...then don't buy at all?

I mean the suffering these birds go through in cramped, dirty sheds is unbelievable. There is usually no natural light and the birds are usually ill before they're culled.

If you can stomach it, please look at these:
WARNING: NOT NICE PICTURES!
HERE

OP posts:
WhereTheWildThingsWere · 27/05/2009 10:08

No animals are not as important as humans, yet by continuing to farm in the way that we do we are taking a huge risk, CJD came about from feeding animal to other (vegatarian) animals, antibiotic resistance in humans is getting worse because of the amount we consume in our food.

It is wrong to expect meat to be this cheap, if you just want cheap food for your children because you are putting them first, then you just haven't thought it through imo.

SerendipitousHarlot · 27/05/2009 10:08

cornsilk but the end result is the same... they're reared to be killed and eaten. So the conditions that they're kept in.. is kind of irrelevant, surely.

cornsilk · 27/05/2009 10:08

Sorry I meant do you give a flying fuck - must read posts properly.

Morloth · 27/05/2009 10:08

Hopefully I have a some tomatoes on the go and a huge herb selection in my pots. Was thinking about aubergines but not sure where to put them.

All of these things are yummy and great, but not exactly protein sources.

Actually sockmonster I think the main cause of obesity is sugar. It certainly was for me. I used to weigh almost 140kgs, I now weight 65kgs (give or take), mostly obtained by dropping sugar (carbs) and eating more meats/animal products.

FioFio · 27/05/2009 10:08

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FioFio · 27/05/2009 10:09

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melmog · 27/05/2009 10:09

I'm afraid I kind of agree too. Don't shoot me! We manage on a very tight budget, but only have meat 2 or 3 times a week. We only ever buy free range chicken, eggs and pork but we always buy a big joint and portion it up ourselves or roast it and usually get at least 2 meals out of it. Our record is 5 meals from 1 large free range chicken. It's getting to be a bit competitive now too!

Hoping I'm not sounding too patronising...

Original poster
LolaTheShowgirl · 27/05/2009 10:09

Happy Hen free range eggs £1 per 6 in my ASDA.

OP posts:
Hopefully · 27/05/2009 10:10

Agree with the others - all the antibiotics etc that those chickens are stuffed full of just cannot be good to be eating on a daily/weekly basis, and arguably contribute to rise of dangerous diseases and drug resistant bacteria, therefore having a negative effect on everyone, including our own kids.

cornsilk · 27/05/2009 10:10

It's not though SH - unnatural farming conditions are directly linked to bird/swine flu.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 27/05/2009 10:11

Or couse how they live make a difference, we are all going to die, does it make no difference how are lives are lived?

Original poster
LolaTheShowgirl · 27/05/2009 10:12

I'm proud of you melmog

Just little changes can make a difference for these hens.

OP posts:
Hopefully · 27/05/2009 10:12

Morloth true about the protein, but if you can con your kids into believing that beans and/or lentils are yummy, then that's a brilliant protein source. We make boston baked beans with a bit of pork belly and tons and tons and tons of beans, and it lasts for bloody ages, and the belly gives it a god flavour. Downside is that some kids will rumble that beans are not as good as a big lump of fillet steak in the taste department

expatinscotland · 27/05/2009 10:12

'I myself can't afford it and I haven't had chicken or eggs for a long time now. I don't think it's worth the birds suffering for any selfish persons enjoyment.'

Good for you.

I don't see where it's yours or my business to rant at others who don't see things the same way.

It's hardly going to win over any converts.

Morloth · 27/05/2009 10:12

cornsilk and wildthings raise a valid point. Humans are selfish the majority of us simply don't care about animals. However we care about ourselves.

So perhaps the platform should change to push the health benefits to humans of free range/organic meat?

Off to the gym guys - try to slow the argument down so I don't miss too much!

Hopefully · 27/05/2009 10:13

at 5 meals from 1 chicken, I can manage 4, but the last one really only gets to wave at the chicken from the other side of the room!

expatinscotland · 27/05/2009 10:13

'if you can con your kids into believing that beans and/or lentils are yummy, then that's a brilliant protein source. '

LOL! Mine eat it. But your child is still a baby.

Give it a few years and see how great you are at conning a child.

GossipMonger · 27/05/2009 10:14

ooh lots of points on here!

We live on a budget and do not buy battery reared chicken or eggs.

We choose to eat more veggie food and have FR meat less often.

When I went to stay with my DB and his wife they pulled a value chicken out of the fridge and I had to push it down my throat! It tasted of nothing and was imho a waste of money.

A FR chicken has more meat on it, is tastier and has had a better life.

I dont judge others about it though.

thesockmonsterofdoom · 27/05/2009 10:14

ecpat, because it is not just about opinions, it is about people condoning cruelty, and we are supposed to be a higher species, we are the only people who can stop this.

Bucharest · 27/05/2009 10:14

Of course animals are not more important than humans (and I speak as a 20 yr + vegetarian (now lapsed)) but I do agree with the idea that some of the crap that is sold in our supermarkets and butchers is not something I would want my child eating. (I don't think too much about whether the piggy on my plate was a happy piggy, more about the growth hormones/antibiotics and other stuff he'd been pumped with during his short piggy life) I don't buy organic or free range, because I'm in Italy, and where I am, no-one's ever heard of it. (so Jamie Oliver and his patronising claptrap about Italian food can put that where the sun ain't going to shine)I can get a free range egg at a push- or rather I can get something that has, rather euphemistically "stood on earth". (they've still got that fishy taste though)

Hopefully · 27/05/2009 10:15

Expat am enjoying my total denial about parenting an older child - in my head DS will jump with joy at the prospect of baked beans for dinner!

FabulousBakerGirl · 27/05/2009 10:15

IME happier chickens taste nicer. Just as organic eggs taste a lot nicer than others.

We all have free choices. Up to us what we do.

expatinscotland · 27/05/2009 10:15

it's about people making different choices from us, sockmonster.

i don't like a lot of choices others make.

tough.

grumblinalong · 27/05/2009 10:16

'The way to do it, is say you have chicken once a week, just have it once a fortnight instead.'

The way to do it IMO, is stop sermonising down to the masses, to feed your own ego about how 'right' you are and start having a bit of awareness outside of yourself

Original poster
LolaTheShowgirl · 27/05/2009 10:16

"Good for you.

I don't see where it's yours or my business to rant at others who don't see things the same way.

It's hardly going to win over any converts."

How do you know that?

If I can just help to change one persons view point, then it will make a difference and i'm just trying to show that it can be done.

OP posts:
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