Chicken's back on the agenda for the British public. If you're still confused about what you're buying then here's what you need to know
The top standard remains organic and all such birds are supposed to be free ranging. Once again EU standards are open to interpretation. Flocks can be almost 10,000 strong meaning that some birds simply won't be able to make it out of the shed – picture commuters on a train during rush hour packed around the doorway with plenty more space inside!
Probably the best standards are those set by the Soil Association who recommend a flock size of 500. Birds here are truly free roaming spending two thirds of their life outdoors. They must have ground to root around and scratch in with cover from pasture, trees or shrubs. All of these things are important to promote natural bird behaviour and keep the bird active and healthier.
When it comes to the table an organic bird will have had at least double the life span of a 'standard' bird. But given the conditions some of those survive in, you may think it's a mercy they're killed so soon.
Find out about Hugh's latest chicken labelling campaign
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