Hugh's Chicken Run Hugh's Chicken Run - episode 2

Date Published:

08/01/2008

Ethics and emotions are challenged as the realities of intensive farming hit Hugh hard

Last night saw Hugh begin his crusade against intensive chicken farming, where birds are reared indoors in conditions that deprive the animals of anything resembling a natural life.

On a mission to convert the chicken eating public to a free-range future, Hugh is encouraging people to campaign against a commercial market where meat is so cheap that with some 'buy-one-get-one-free' offers, a roast bird is cheaper than a pint of beer. The revolution is starting in Axminster, the sleepy Devonshire town of his birth.

Having set up his own free range and intensive chicken farms, Hugh's finding the reality of raising broiler birds increasingly difficult.

The rapid growth of Hugh’s 2,500 chickens is a stark contrast to their 1,500 free range neighbours who get to frolic in the sunshine, and as the days pass, the grim realities of commercial farming start to weigh heavily on Hugh’s mind.

The residents of Millwey, an estate of enthusiastic cheap chicken eaters who set up their own free range flock with Hugh's help, have started to bond with their birds. When they come to visit Hugh's experimental farms, they get to witness the shocking reality of cheap chicken. For some it's more than they can bear.

Hugh also gets a weighty endorsement for his aims when fellow chef Jamie Oliver, a fellow chicken rights enthusiast, pays him a visit.

What do you think about intensively farmed chicken? Tell us your thoughts in the user comments below.

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