The River Cottage Chicken Out Campaign
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Campaign for Free Range Chickens
Regular visitors to this site may recall earlier posts about my concerns for the state of poultry production in the United Kingdom. I have made it my clear intention to source local free range chicken and to try and persuade my customers onto other meats and fish.
This isn’t going to be an easy task, paying guests do not always take kindly to being ‘lectured’ on what they can and can’t eat, ethics or no ethics. There are those who complain if chicken is not on the menu and complain louder still if the price is too high, even if it is a quality free-range product.
What I am hoping will help to turn the tide is the new campaign by the writer and broadcaster, Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall. Under the banner of his business, ‘The River Cottage’ and with the benefit of television exposure he is creating a groundswell of public awareness and opinion against intensively reared chickens in this country. He has been backed by Jamie Oliver, the UK’s housewives favourite chef (after me 
) and I do believe that given enough media backing he might achieve the same kind of awareness which Oliver achieved with his school meals campaign.
I have been a good citizen and signed up for the petition, if you feel strongly about it click on the link below to take part. On a final note, many of the visitors to this blog are from the United States and I would be very interested to hear if you have similar concerns about the standard of poultry farming in your country. Equally, if the standards are higher I would like to know why.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for considering the River Cottage Chicken Out Campaign.
http://www.chickenout.tv/sign-up.html
Miles
I’ve signed up !
The real question is will I ’sign up’ in a couple of hours when I go shopping ?
Rod
January 5, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Rod,
That’s the test, consider alternative choices of meat and fish or even the occasional vegetable only meal. You never know! Good luck
Miles
January 5, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Miles,
I’ve been buying free range chickens for years now and that goes for eggs too. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a great label reader which makes shopping a lengthy business sometimes…. however I’m now picky about which free range chicken to get. For a few pounds more I have peace of mind and a much tastier meal. Here’s the maths … I spend £5 and could feed four people at one sitting, next day I make soup for about the same number from the carcass… I don’t think that’s bad economics. If your readers don’t like soup then make the stock into a risotto, it’s not difficult.
Walk past those wretched battery chickens everyone out there and vote free range….. together we will make a difference to the welfare of these animals.
Cid
January 5, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Cid,
Well said, a valuable point coupled with sound kitchen economics. I do believe food thrift is something many of us have lost sight of which is a pity not just in the sheer waste but the loss of some great ‘leftovers’ dishes.
Miles
January 5, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Miles,
The Nean household has heard your war cry. We too will be beating the drums and have signed up.
Better to eat a little less and have quality of food and life for the animals who supply it.
It is good to eat a whole variety of foods which is simple enough with some knowledge and organisation.
Could you increase my knowledge on how best to use up a cupboard full of dried pulses, please?
Elsie
January 5, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Miles
thought I’d report back. I went to Sainsbury’s supermarket and thought I’d check all the chickens.
I expected to see countless options but in fact there were but 2 !
A standard chicken and an organic chicken !
I presumed they’d have all sorts of so called de luxe corn feed free range type things which cost a small fortune but no !
So today I did not even have the option!
Rod
January 5, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
Rod,
Interesting point and thanks for bothering to look. HFW will be on Channel 4 next monday, tuesday and wednesday highlighting the plight of chickens and tries tackling the supermarkets head on. Jamie Oliver will be on it so I shall be interested on his views regarding Sainsbury’s!
Miles
January 5, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
Elsie,
Thanks for bothering, as for dried pulses that’s what I have had for dinner tonight, lentil dal with garam masala tiger prawns (farmed) Will sort something out.
Miles
January 5, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
Miles,
How about that for action: No more battery hens after 2012, I understand - banned by the Government.
VICTORY
January 9, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Elsie,
If this is true it’s wonderful news…. why 2012 I wonder? I’ve been watching Hugh’s programme on the subject and note one lady’s determination to buy battery chicken saying she couldn’t afford free range. Let’s hope she sees the light finally in tonight’s programme.
Onward with the juicer recipes…. today was the turn of beetroot, celery, carrot, apple and pear… a rare vintage but not unpleasant and downed in a matter of seconds. My body doesn’t know quite what’s hit it. Any left over pulp ought to be slapped on as a face pack but alas neon pink does nothing for me
Cid
January 9, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
Elsie,
I take full credit!
Miles
January 9, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Miles & Cid,
I only repeated what was said on the news yesterday re battery hens. About the phasing out time nothing was said. However, having also watched the programmes, I am wondering if there is sufficient land available for the free range chickens? It does not seem to have occured to some people that an option is also to just eat less but good.
Meantime, I have visions of you as a slim goddess, Cid, turning into all shades of colours
January 10, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Elsie,
Eating good food in moderation, well said. Half the problem is that as a nation we insist on eating junk food made from cheap, processed meat. We could simply turn our backs on it if we really wanted to.
Miles
January 10, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
Elsie,
I’m slightly concerned about the ’slim goddess’ vision and strangely enough have that very dream every night
sadly though every morning it’s still cuddly old me that is reflected in the mirror! As to colourful, I’m aware that too much carrot can lead to health problems and a suspicious looking fake tan….. I’m a lovely shade of apple green at the moment 
Cid
January 10, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
Miles
no free range chicken in either M&S or Sainsbury’s - on a Saturday as well.
January 12, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Cid,
Nothing wrong with a little “cuddly”. I know quite a few men who don’t like “skinny birds” and prefer one with “something to get hold of”
January 12, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Rod,
You can’t win!
January 12, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Rod,
It’s got to be something to do with where you live. No problem here in Camalot.
Miles,
I’ve got a FR guinea fowl for lunch tomorrow… don’t think I’ve tried it before but I’ll report back. By the way, I’m still ploughing through the bubble & squeak, I’m no good at rationing. In this instance the squeak is Cavolo Nero which is also new to me but goes very well in this dish.
Cid
January 12, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
Elsie,
Where were these men in the past when I needed them
This year I’ve got to find my waist and it’s going to take a lot more than the odd glass of rainbow coloured juice, alas.
Cid
January 12, 2008 @ 7:26 pm