Chook Me!

Raising free range chickens? My family owns a small farm about (70 acres) & we're trying to go organic well i'm wanting to get some free-range hens so we can have fresh eggs. Where can I go to make sure that my chicks are ACTUALLY from free-range antibiotic free chickens? I'm thinking about ordering them from a catalog do you know any names for the catalogs? Also where can I get organic or natural chicken feed from? Like I said I want everything to be organic & humane as possible so any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks most of the farms close by are no longer around bastards sold out now theres suburbs :( so I have no clue where to find other organic farms

What's the best way to raise free range chickens? i have a pair of game chickens, and i wanted to know is, if i keep them in a coup for a week than let them out, and they come back to roost at night, will they go back to the old coup if i move them to a new coup, and leave them there for a bit?

Anyone raise free range chickens? I have several chickens and they are currently penned up but i got a coop and was wondering if anyone raises free range chickens and what are good tips for someone starting to raise free range chickens. Such as do i lock them up at night?

The meat from the free range chickens we raised is very tough, need cooking advice and recipies? I raised chickens for the first time this summer. They were free range on the farm. They were a dual purpose breed (not the broiler type). We butchered them at about 20weeks old. I dont know if we let them get too old, maybe we did something during the butchering process, or if they are this way just because they were able to run alot on the farm. What ever the reason, the chicken tastes great! It has great flavour, and it is not dry, but... it is very tough, so much so that my husband wont eat it! Does anyone have any advice on ways that I could cook this chicken to help with the toughness of the meat? Maybe I could cook it in the slow cooker? All of the chickens are 4-6lbs and were frozen whole. We dont like anything too fancy, just a simple recipie that will help. I am also open to any advice about how to avoid this problem when raising them next year.

How to raise free ranged chickens? I have a chicken coop that they will be locked in at night to keep away from predators during the night, but what about during the day? Especially when no one is home or no one is outside? If I keep them in a coop and run, they won't be able to go anywhere else than there and the grass will be gone when they are finished with it because I'm not able to get a chicken tractor for them. Any ideas? How do you raise your chickens?

Where can I download a complete guide to free range chicken farming? I am going to be buying chickens and raise them free range, and would like to know where I can find a complete guide on the topic to get the most information before hand, thank you!

How can I find a list of companies that sell free-range/pasture-raised whole chickens? I've tried searching the web, but I haven't found anything like a comprehensive list of such companies. Does such a thing even exit?

Does Claxton Poultry use free range chickens? I am wondering how the chickens are raised at Claxton Poultry(www.claxtonpoultry.com). Are they free-range chickens? Or are they stuck in a factories all their lives squished in a tiny cage surrounded by their own waste? I would like to know what I am consuming. Thank you.

Can you raise free-range pigs, sheep, goats and chickens all together? Can they all inhabit the same pasture? Of course you would need a coop adjacent to the pasture for the chickens only, but the shelters for the other animals could also be integrated. Is this done?

where can i find free range chickens? i live in wheaton ill. and i want to find a local farm that either raises chickens, hens, pigs, or cows. i dont want to get my meat and dairy from some store where i dont know if the animals have been treated horribly. i want to find a place where i can get them and KNOW they were treated right. can someone please help?

Where can I find pasture raised free range chicken and eggs in the Milwaukee area?

Would anyone be willing to give a tour of a profitable free range chicken farm? I'm looking to start a free range chicken farm. Would anyone be willing to let me tour their chicken farm and give me some pointers? For ex: whats more profitable selling eggs or raising chickens for meat or a little of both? I just don't want to reinvent the wheel.

What is the best, most economical way to fence out free range chickens out of the garden area? I need to find an attractive and economical way to keep my free range chickens out of my garden. The garden is one large raised bed that measures aproximately 60' x 30' and is surrounded by cedar logs to keep the dirt in with short, hand cut fence boards lining the front. I like the way it looks now but I need to figure out a way to keep chickens out without the look of something just thrown up haphazardly.

How do you feel about people owning their own free range chickens and cattle? Raising them on their property (again, with free run) with some living out their lives on the farm but others being used for consumption (and knowing that the slaughter was quick and humane). Are you against this also or just the inhumane slaughter houses? I was just curious on vegan/vegetarian views on this.

What causes chickens to lay brown eggs? Organically raised and free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell color is only brown; whereas non-organically and non-free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell is either white or brown.. Why is that?

is there a store in San Jose CA that sells Organic Free Range Chicken? I found out that Foster Farms raises their chickens 13000+ in small un movable quarters. And their feed has msg. So, is there a store out here that has free range chicken? Thanks

Can you raise chickens and hogs in the same "free range" area? I have an area of pasture where I am going to raise 3 hogs. I am getting a new group of pullets and want to put the older hens in with the hogs. Are there any health issues I need to be concerned about? Has anybody tried this? If so, do you have any suggestions?

Are barn raised eggs better than free range? In the supermarket (Australia) there are barn raised and free range eggs from the same brand. I would have thought free range was better for the chickens, but the barn raised eggs have the RSPCA stamp of approval, not the free range ones. Why?

Is your turkey free range or ordinary "shop" bought? be assured there will be no thumbs down from me if it isn't free range, just curious. We reared 2 free range turkeys from chicks this year, we have hens and ducks already so have the space and the time to devote to them. Feed is expensive however, not sure if its worth it in the end? Tomorrow will be the taste test. Often I buy the "2 for a fiver" cheap chickens in the supermarkets. We have 2 teenagers and its hard making ends meet with my b/f on the dole. I don't envy the chickens life but needs must sometimes. Free range always tastes better, you can tell the difference but sadly I don't always have the money to buy free range. Do Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnleigh Whittingstall have any impact on your shopping habits or is free range a great idea but just too expensive. I saw some free range birds on sale in M&S for 75 Euro (£70) which is seriously expensive. I hope to raise more free range chickens and turkeys next year, for our own consumption, fk the supermarkets.

Why do chickens lay brown eggs.? Organically raised and free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell color is only brown; whereas non-organically and non-free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell is either white or brown.. Why is that?

Where can I get cou-nu chickens in USA to raise? In France they have label rouge ("red label") cou-nu ("naked neck") chickens that are raised free range, and absolutely delicious. I am interested in raising these chickens in Pennsylvania. A place that sells them as food is http://www.joycefoods.com/label-rouge-america.php , but they guard their exclusivity in the USA, I believe. Anyone know where to purchase breeding stock?

Opinions about the clothes free choices for children? Sorry for the lengthy question in advance. I asked a similar question a few months ago and would like some more opinions. My niece, Katie, who is seven years old hates to wear clothes. My sister-in-law, Janet who is best described as lovable hippy (complete with dreadlocks). Janet leads an interesting life, she has a MA. Anthropology, she is a writer, and raises free-range chickens to sell their eggs. My brother is an architect that specialises in green construction. To say they are liberal would be an understatement. Since they live on a secluded 50 acres, Janet and my brother have always allowed Katie considerable freedom all of her life to run around inside and weather permitting outside of the house as naked as she pleases, and now hates to wear cloths at home. To be more exact she hates clothes, period. My sister-in-law home schools Katie, so other than for weather there is really little need for her to be dressed. It is usual that when we go over to their house Katie will be running around with nothing on and it doesn’t matter who else is there visiting. It is after all what Katie sees as her home, so at their house you visit Katie on Katie’s terms. Other parents who are bringing children over already know what to expect before they get there, so it’s up to them if they come with their kids or not. Since all of their friends are like minded earthy hippie types they often bring their kids of all ages, both girls and some boys. A few kids do join in but for some reason when they do it’s just the girls. When my 5 year old daughter sees her cousin she always ready to strip off and join in. We always let. She always has a great time when she does. My daughter tells me, playing in the mud is always great fun when you’re not wearing any clothes because “you can always get the dirtiest”. I have even seen my brother and sister-in-law take Katie to go with them in the car to the city if they are going somewhere that she doesn’t have to get out, and they think nothing of leaving all of her clothes at home. She remains in the back seat with its tinted windows. They keep a blanket in the trunk just in case. Last summer I went for the first time with Janet to take some eggs to a little general store in a nearby hamlet. It’s a little town of about seventy-five people, at the very most. The store is owned by a friend of my sister-in-law who is another hippy type girl. Janet put Katie in the car unclothed as usual. To get to the store, we had to get into the car, drive twenty five minutes to the town. When we arrived Katie out in the middle of the little town, waited for some cars to pass, waved at one of them, crossed the street and had to stop to say hi to a cat before we got to where we were going. We did it all while she was in full view of anyone in the town, as if nothing could be more normal for her. Most people in the area are very progressive liberal and it doesn’t faze them at all. We chatted and had coffee with my sister-in-law’s friend while Katie and my daughter played around the store. After being pestered and realising how accepting people were of Katie’s lack of attire I let my daughter take off her clothes for the rest of the visit and the return trip. For the entire trip Katie remained in the buff as cars and customers passed. Katie couldn’t have cared less, even when we stopped to chat with someone on the street that Janet knew. People just know her as the little girl who comes with her mom to bring the eggs and she appears to have free run of the town. Is Katie is leading the perfect, most adjusted stress free childhood possible with absolutely no hang-ups about her body. Or, is this upbringing going to lead to some sort of negative consequences. I have to admit I am somewhat envious on one hand and want to go buy a secluded acreage in the country so my daughter can live the same way. Is seven years old too old to run around with this lifestyle, or what is too old? Is it eight or ten? Do you think there could be any negative implications allowing her such freedoms? Opinions?

How can I keep my dog inside the back yard?? He is a 3 year old blue dobie named jackson. I have tried attacking chicken wire to the fence to make it too wobbly to climb-didnt work! I need to know a way to keep him in the yard because we raise free ranging chickens and hes started killing them so he needs to be in the back yard unless we are outside with him. Any ideas-with out spending a couple hundred bucks? Attaching--sorry guys i didnt attack the chicken wire! lol

Why exactly do Vegans abstain from eggs? What if the chicken is raised organically, and the egg is free-range? ... and the chicken is free from ANY type of mistreatment... Would you then eat it? Is there an ethical reason not to eat from such a chicken?

Best way to raise chickens, how many to have, can they have free range? Should I buy them as very young chicks and raise them personally? Or can I just buy adult hens? What's the difference? Why should I raise them rather than buy them? There's three adults and one teenager living in the house. I'm the teenager and will be caring for the chickens. Everyone will probably have two eggs every day, so let's say I need six eggs every day. How many chickens should I have in order to ensure this number of daily eggs? Rather than building a coop and completely fencing the thing in, can I just let the chickens roam the property during the day? I will put them back into the coop at night, but otherwise they'll be free to roam the property from sunrise to sunset. Is this a good or bad idea? How likely is it that some of them will be lost to predators?

if i raise labradors with chickens from birth will them be less likely to hunt the chickens? i have an acre, free range chickens, 20 of them, with 2 roosters. Getting some yellow labs, if i get them used to the chickens while theyre young and try to stop them from hunting, will it really stop them from killing chickens in the future?

why can on year olds only have 3 eggs a week? my 13 month old's pediatrician gave us a handout about food guidelines, and it said only 3 eggs a week. it didn't say why, and i forgot to ask. my baby LOVES eggs, and my mom raises free-range chickens on her all-organic plot of land. so we've got tons of them (and their nicer eggs than in the stores, the yolks are rich orange & twice as big!) so why the 3 egg a week limit for one year olds? oops! the title should read "Why can one year olds only have 3 eggs a week?"

How can I cut back on eating factory farmed animals/milk? I eat meat because I need the protein. I drink milk for the calcium. But I'm concerned about the limits that factory farm animals are being pushed to, cruelty, and chemicals. Lately I learned that drinking milk supports the deplorable veal industry. In short my ethics are catching up to me. I've decided I need to "be the change I want to see". Short of raising my own free range chickens and cows, what are some practical solutions/alternatives?

Would it be easier to raise Ducks or Chickens? Which is easier to raise free range and in pens? Which is reproduces offspring more? Which is more likely to get away from predators?

Why do people trim the chicken's beak? I am just now raising a few free range chickens as pets. They run all over my yard in the country. I have been noticing that some business that ship chickens trim the beak, Why? Do I really need to do that? I hear it is to keep them from pecking at eachother. I really haven't seen them being aggressive to one another. Is it a certain breed of chicken that needs that to be done? Or is it for chickens in a small space?

Where to buy humanely raised, non-factory farmed chicken? Is there a specific brand that raises free range, non-factory farmed chickens? One where the chickens have adequate space as they are being raised and are treated respectfully? If so, what stores can this chicken be purchased in? I didn't ask for flak, October. I know it's not compassionate to kill chickens, but I'm not asking for your opinion, so don't bother responding if you aren't going to answer. To everyone else, thanks. I'll check Whole Foods or local farmer's markets.

raiseing meat chickens for people and selling free range pastured eggs on farm, how much should I charge? I do not have a weight scale, so I would charge $3.00 base price per chicken, plus a cost per week that the chicken was on the farm. These will be cornish giants and Rhode Island Reds, and will be raised on fresh green grass free to run on pastures at our farm. The chickens will be picked up at the farm as live birds at what ever age the buyer decides. I live in alberta canada and would need to charge a premium price for a premium animal. It will cost at least $.28/week to grow these chickens. The hens are raised the same as the meat chickens, and live a very happy and healthy life! Egg yolks are orange from their diet and rich in flavour. I am not a company, I am a stay at home mother of three that would like to turn her love of chickens into some money to fix up the family farm and help hubby stay home from work a little more. Any suggestions? These will no be organic chickens or eggs, but they are fed on grass, and grains, and free to eat as much as they can find in the open pastures. I cant charge as much as organic and wont give it away for the same as factory raised. Would you pay 2.50/dozen would you pay $8.50 $7.75 Or $7.00 for live Fryer Would you pay $10.00 $6.50 Or $8.00 for live Roaster

i want to buy a free range chicken from the farm it was raised, B'ham? I'll kill it if necessary just want to know where it comes from before i hand over a tenner ,having a fancy label convinces me of nothing. if i'm paying the premium i want to see the proof, i will not buy an expensive chicken from a shop,and that goes for farm shops also who have bought the supposed free ranger in from a local farm,unless i know where it has come from , i've googled my area but cannot find a much. i'm nipping out to tesco's for some free range eggs .i'll expect good answers on my return. Mc Dannel; I have worked on equipment in pig, sheep,cow,lamb and chicken abortoirs all over the uk and from start to finish it's blood,gore,skins,smells and heads everywhere you turn . It's life.and it's been going on for years. Fi; I doubt you know much about B'rum if you think its not a place of greenery, it is surrounded on everyside by farm land warwickshire worstershire shropshire leicestershire gloucestershire, herofordshire all within 45mins drive in a 4x4 range rover. yes or no

value of total output? A farmer raises free-range chickens,which he sells to a company for %1000.That companynsella the "processed" chickens to a grocery store for $1600,which in turn produces roasted chickens which are sold to the public for $2400.Base on this information, the value of total output is equal to $(how much)?

Which egg companies mislead when they say "Free Range" or "Cage Free"? I need to find a company that advertises their eggs as "Free Range" or "Cage Free" but are not being truthful, like when they say "Free Range", they mean the chickens have access to sunlight for 5 minutes a day. I know there are companies out there like that, but I just need to find one with a description misleading the public about hoe they raise their chickens.

I'm not sure if I want to be vegan anymore? I've been vegan for about 2 years and I'm honestly just dying to EAT and just love it. I mean I have my vegan favourites and there are some good vegan restaurants in the area. The thing is, morally, my heart and head are still into a vegan diet. I did however find one local farm who grows vegetables and raises free range chickens(for eggs only). No meat. So really, what's wrong with it? Nothing that I can see. Yet my mind still can't wrap itself around the idea of not being vegan. And then at that, where do I draw the line? If I'm at a friend's house with different eggs, can I eat them? What about all the by-products I've been avoiding? I'm just not sure. Thoughts? I should mention I was vegetarian for a couple years prior to my veganism. I will never "eat a freaken hamburger" I do not believe that there is any excuse to kill an animal. This is really supposed to be a debate about whether or not people agree with my morals. I don't think animals are meant to eat. End of story. *isn't I'm not pro-life so I don't see eggs as murder. My initial issue with eggs was the correlation to the meat industry/producers of meat. If the people I buy eggs from don't slaughter any animals directly or indirectly I think it might be okay, although that's sort of my internal debate. Telling me to eat some meat is so fvcking annoying. I never ever tell people who eat meat not to, all I want is that same respect in return.

Chicken manure contamination? I buy only free range chickens to eat as I do not agree with the cruelty inflicted upon chickens raised intensively. My concern is, do all the horrific chemicals they pump into these poor chickens to make them grow faster come out in the manure pellets I buy at the hardware to put on my vegie garden?

Some questions about raising chickens from a beginner!? Ok, I will lay down all the facts but I don't know what information is pertinent and what isn't, so here is everything. I have 1 hen and 1 rooster. They are Blue Americaunas. I have had them since chicks, and they have a good sized coup to live in. I feed them chicken feed from the store, but they also get free range time a few hours per day. When they were roughly 9 months old, the hen started laying eggs. I laid hay inside the coup but they apparently dont like that because they kick it all out no matter how many times I put it in there. I put a heat lamp inside the cage for the nights when it drops below 30. She laid one egg per day until the 5th day, and I came out and found eggshell under the coup so I figured some animal got to it. I put a better locking clasp that covers the hole for access to the eggs and figured problem solved. 10 days have gone by and no eggs. This is my first time raising chickens so I have no idea what to do. If I did not give enough information, please let me know and I will add comments, and then please check back! Thanks in advance! Thanks for the input...but wouldn't I have found more egg shells? Do they eat the shell too?

Need Help With Raising Chickens? I am going to build a chicken coop and run, there are too many cats & dogs for free range. I plan on getting 8 egg-layers (Wyandotte's) and maybe 1 rooster. I have been reading from a lot of websites about raising chickens, but I would like help from someone who has a few years of Experience raising chickens. I was going to get a rooster but I don't want to breed chickens, I just thought the rooster would make a good social structure. So should I get a rooster? I want my chickens to have enough space to be happy, So how big should the coop and run be? I would also appreciate Coop & Run building plans that will be safe enough to keep cats, dogs, and raccoons out of the coop and run. Please give all the advice you can, thanks!

How is Walmart's great value chicken raised? Please tell me anything you know regarding Great Value chicken. Are they free range, or raised in chicken houses? Thanks for your answers in advanced.

How large a piece of property do I need to have laying chickens and friers? I want to increase my Omega-3 fatty acid intake and want to have laying hens to have free-range egg-laying chickens---I also want to raise my own friers. How much property should I ideally have, and how many chickens (layers & friers) for 2 people? Also I'd love to have you share links (URLs) on compact laying chicken houses and roosting place for one Rooster, and for however many layers I should have.

What do I need to know about raising backyard chickens and rabbits? I'm moving into a house (owned, not rented) with a yard approximately 50'x50' fenced in and covered in grass. The yard is big, flat and sunny all day long during the spring/summer/fall seasons. I want to raise chickens for eggs and rabbits for meat. Here's my plan: - 4 to 6 hens in their own coop of appropriate size - 2 doe and 2 buck rabbits, give or take, in their own hutches of appropriate size, taking into consideration that they'll be having lots of babies I have a few questions about this setup. - Will the chickens and rabbits get along free ranging in the yard together, or should I give them each a separate opportunity to romp in the grass? - With this much space to scratch and peck, will the chickens still eventually ruin the grass? How much time should I allow them outside each day to avoid this? - Is there a workable, less violent method of slaughtering the rabbits than breaking the necks? I'm comfortable with killing them but obviously am interested in the least violent method. Has anyone tried asphyxiating them in a sealed container with CO2? - Any other tips, advice or ideas from people with experience raising chickens and rabbits?

Chicken keepers of the World, bagaak bagaak, I need your knowledge!? Oh please help us, we have super tame hand raised chickens, free range, let themselves out in the morning, up at the back door etc 2 floors up, two have started going through the dog door downstairs to lay eggs under house (no coup required) they do it at dawn, make one heck of a racket etc. Rubber Snake? what will keep them from using the dog door that the dog needs? They brag about it for half an hour and wake the whole house. The others still lay in the chook house. Thank you from the bottom of my omelet pan!

Where else can i go to find a RAW dairy supplier? My organic farmer that I've been going to for free range chicken/eggs, grass fed beef, and range raised pork was also my raw dairy supplier. But they were losing money by offering dairy, so 2 months ago, they stopped. I've since been looking for another local raw dairy supplier, but I'm having trouble finding a reliable source.

My neighbors dog keeps getting my chickens.? I raise a small backyard flock of free range chickens. I pen them up at night, and let them roam through my several acres during the day. In return they provide me with the most wonderful eggs you've ever tasted. The problem is, my neighbors dog occasionally visits and either reduces my flock size, or terrorizes my hens if they haven't been let out for the day yet. The first time it happened, my neighbor was apologetic and compensated me for the dead birds. But the dog has been back several times. I don't want to be a jerk neighbor, but I don't want to lose my few remaining birds, either. I don't really feel that it is the dog's fault, either. Its in his nature. But I want to make it known to the dog that he is NOT welcome in my yard. I know that I legally can shoot him for molesting my 'liestock' but this seems way harsh and I wouldn't go that route. Could I unload the shot from a shotshell and shoot him with the wad to scare the bejesus from him?

what should i charge for adult, healthy, cage-free chickens? wanting to downsize, and have brown hens for sale to a friend. what should i charge for them in US $? cage free, free-range, healthy happy brown-orange hens. beautiful birds. they're wanting to RAISE them not butcher them. how much should i charge?

Which livestock is most valuable in which state? Which 3 of these livestock animals, or products of animals, is more valuable(will sell for the most) in the US? Meat- cattle, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey, swine Other- dairy cow, dairy goat, hair sheep, free range raised laying chicken Which of these states is in the most need for(therefore paying more for it) these animals? Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Florida, California, Nevada, S. Carolina

What are heritage chickens and turkeys? How are they different than conventional chickens and turkeys. Are they found in only specialty stores? Are they free range and raised organic?

Where can I find truly free range eggs in los angeles or somewhere near south gate city? About a month ago, I got really really really sick. I remember eating two eggs that morning and the rest was history. Before you know it, I was throwing up, running a fever, feeling tremendously achy. I went to the doctor and possibly got food poisoning from eating those eggs. The next day my mom also got sick and recalled eating those eggs. Not knowing so much about eggs and how they're harvested, I was deeply disturbed by how chickens are treated. Ultimately, I was dissapointed in myself for not knowing any better. I truly feel bad for being ignorant of my choices. Anyhow, iM in search of free range eggs. I dont want to support anymore unethical and unatural egg companies. Any advice or locations on where I can find farmers who raise chickens ethically. I recently went to my farmers market but they seemed to lack genuine knowledge of how they're chickens are raised. Im willing to spend the extra dollar or so. I no longer want supermarket eggs. they're horrible!!!!

Is beef "free range" by definition? We all know that chickens can be battery-farmed or free range. But cows can't be battery farmed, can they? Can I assume that any beef I buy will be from cows that were raised well? We all know that chickens can be battery-farmed or free range. But cows can't be battery farmed, can they? Can I assume that any beef I buy will be from cows that were raised well? --A link or justification for answers (accusations of poor quality, for example) would be very helpful.

Why is it some ppl claim gm foods are no different than organic? I taste a difference between gm and organic foods. I always prefer the taste of organic foods than gm. Even when it comes to free range chicken eggs to meat raised on grass only. Why do they keep lying saying there's no difference?

Raising Backyard Chickens? I just moved onto a 30 acre farm and live next to my landlord who has a portable chicken coop that he moves around his 'side' of the property where all the hens are free range. He is allowing me to get chickens and ducks (we also have a small pond). Since we are on a lease I cannot build a permanent coop, if I were to build a portable chicken coop would my chickens join his flock or would they stay in our yard? I only want 3 but I want the eggs to be on my side of the property and not in his coop :)

Where can I buy a pasture-raised whole chicken for roasting in Chicago? I'm especially looking for local sources of food, within a hundred or two hundred miles. I loved Marin Sun Farms in San Francisco and would like to find a similar farm now that I live in Chicago. Grocery stores have "natural" and "free-range" chickens that don't necessarily live in pastures and barns except in a very broad definition of those words. Any tips on a good farm? Bonus points if they sometimes sell within the city limits, but if I have to travel to outer regions every few months that might work, too.

What price should i charge if i am selling Free Range Eggs? I have 39 chickens and i am selling the eggs. It costs me €30.00 a week to feed them. I am getting 3 dozen eggs a day i am charging €1.50 half a dozen now. I want to raise the price as it was costing €25.00 a week to feed them but the price of feed has increased. What would you consider a fair price for me to charge?

Why are my chickens droppings green and black? I have been raising chickens for a while and my chickens have stopped laying (except for a couple) and some of my chickens have green droppings which are really runny, and I saw one this morning that was straight black, like tar! One is really gooey with blood in it (I got this chicken a couple weeks ago from the fair when we took our chickens there. We isolated the 4 we got from there for a couple weeks and we knew the lady we got them from so we weren't getting them from a strange lady... She is a barred rock hen) But the other ones are fine, they are firm and round with a white cap on it. I have about 40 chickens that are free range (but I put them up at night because we have foxes) I was at the feed store the other day and I picked up some ivermectin to worm them with, is that what they need? to be wormed or is there something more serious? My chickens are very well cared for. I worm them, feed them every morning and let them out and feed them every night and put them back up. They are all pets and let you pick them up whenever you want to. We breed chickens, ducks, turkeys, and quail so we know a lot about them so don't go telling me that I don't know what I'm doing because I've asked questions before and some people are very rude. We also do a couple of shows, the last one we went to was the fair one Nov. 14 2010. Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Please help!!Raccoon and chickens? Will choose best answer!? Ok,sorry for this long question.here it goes:We had three chickens.we live in a town in the suburbs where a lot of people raise a few chickens. We heard lots of stories of racoons killing and eating them but we ourselves never had any trouble. Our chickens loved to roost out side and get to roam the yard,eating weeds and insects. One day we forgot to bring them in at night. nothing happend so we got used to not bringing them in.Big mistake.A racoon got one. We have a small dog (cocker mix) one outdoor/indoor cat and two remanding chickens.what we need to know is: 1.Are our cat and dog in danger and if so how can we protect them? 2.Do racoons hunt during the day? 3.(more of a curiosity question) where do (racoons) they sleep during the day...or night? 4.Anything we can do to deture them from coming and eating our chickens? 5.do we need to stop giving our chickens free range of our (fenced) property and just keep them in their 6 ft. by 6 ft. yard? 6.how early do racoons come out at night? 7. We're probably going to put concrete around the chicken yard because when we first saw the racoon we put the chickens in the coop but he just dug right under it. 8.If we protect our chickens will he just keep on coming and trying to get in? 9.(optional) just name any experience you've had with 'coons. THANKYOU SO MUCH AND SORRY THAT IT WAS SO LONG!!!!! URGENT PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS PLEASE ANSWER THIS ANYBODY!! I NEEEEEEED AN ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!

Which is better dual purpose Chicken, the New Hampshire Chicken of the United States or the Sasso Chicken of F? The New Hampshire chicken is the most popular dual purpose Chicken in America while Sasso is from france but it is very popular in the Philippines and now becoming popular among big and small raisers. Resembling our own native chickens,the Sasso chicken grow faster, with delicious and tender meat and strong disease resistance. Sasso chickens are free-range, affordable, easy to raise which proves to be a profitable livelihood venture. They graze around the field, or backyard running around, and eating grass, corn, leaves and other natural ingredients.

What should I feed my chickens? I really want to raise all-natural chickens. Right now I let my chickens loose during the day on our 4 acre property. They are able to free-range but I am also feeding them corn, because I get this from my dad for free. Is this a healthy diet for chickens?

Do you like the taste of farm raised or free range? - In Kingsville, Texas, there is a law against two pigs having sex on the city's airport property. - It is illegal for hens to lay eggs before 8 am and after 4 pm in Norfolk, Virginia. - Ducks quacking after 10 pm in Essex Falls, New Jersey are breaking the law. - In Quitman, Georgia, it is against the law for a chicken to cross any road within the city limits. - In McDonald, Ohio, farmers cannot march a goose down a city street. And fowl, particularly roosters, are prohibited from going into bakeries in Massachusetts. - In Kansas, it is illegal for chicken thieves to work during daylight hours. - In New York, frogs may be taken from their ponds from June 16 to September 30, but only between sunrise and sunset. - In Pennsylvania, no one is allowed to shoot bullfrogs on a Sunday. - In Arizona, the bullfrog-hunting season is permanently closed. - In Vermont, you can be fined if your pig runs in a public park without the permission of a selectman.

If vegan/veggie why do you not eat mussels and clams? I consider myself as a humanitarian eater. I only purchase eggs and goat's dairy products from people who I personally know that raise the goats and chickens completely free range. I’ve researched it via the web and found out that although fish, shrimps and calamari feel pain and have brains, mussels and clams do not feel pain nor have a brain at all. I’ve posted questions to organisations that deal with animal rights, veganism etc. and they all replied that researches did not show that clams and mussels have brains or feel pain, but that they do not consume it because of the doubt that the researches might have been mistaken. I think that vegans and veggies should be constantly thinking critically, and judge for them what to eat and for what reason, it must not become a religion like habit, but something that you are continually aware of.

vegetarian recipes? (I am new to vegetarianism.)? Does anyone have any good vegetarian recipes? I do not have the ability to get tofu, or false meats. I need easy, delicious dishes for 1 person. My family does not agree with my new ways, and refuse to help me. I am 16, by the way! I still use milk, cheese, and eggs. I will slowly give up the milk and cheese, except I raise my own free-range chickens and feel it is of no harm for the egg-whites only. We do not have roosters, therefore the eggs are unfertilized. If no recipes, does anyone know any sites? Thank you for your help!

has anyone ever raised chickens and turkey together? i was wandering if it was safe to house them together and have breeding stock of both kinds of poultry free ranging together and the chickens not give the turkey any kind of disease, will it affect the baby turkey or chicken poults in a pen about 50x50.

Why don't people realize that its a privilege, not a right, to eat meat? I'm fed up with people moaning about the price of organic or free range meat. They'd rather buy a crappy, barn raised animal for a fifth of the price, not use it properly and throw most of it away. They don't seem to realize that if they for example, made a free range chicken last for three or possibly more meals, they would offset the initial cost, or in fact, actually SAVE money and also be eating a healthier meal. Meat everyday is bad for you anyway. Delicious as it may be.

Does certified organic meat mean that the cow, pig, chicken, turkey has BY DEFINITION been raised humanely? Is the label connected to how meat is raised? Is all organic meat raised free-range or pasture, no gestation crates?

I am thinking about getting chickens? I would really like fresh eggs, We already raise rabbits for shows and was wondering about getting a couple egg laying chickens around 3 our rabbit pens have solid bottoms and we use horse bedding for litter, would they be okay in a rabbit pen at night and then free range during the day?

Question about beef and the way cattle are treated (or mistreated?)....? I watched the documentary Food Inc. and was shocked at how badly animals are treated. I know that the way most laying hens and chickens being raised for meat are treated really IS awful. However, they showed footage of a lot of cattle crowded up together in a small space, knee-deep in their own feces and urine. But I have traveled a lot in the western states and there are tons of cows wandering freely around in green fields. Almost every rural place is filled with them. The film basically says that ALL cattle used for beef and dairy are treated horribly, but I haven't seen it. My mom knows a lot about agriculture and she has seen one farm that was really bad like the film showed, and that was in Washington state. But where exactly is this happening and how can people avoid beef and dairy products from farms like that? Oh and my mom says that the way the film shows chickens being treated is 100% correct, so I started buying cage-free eggs and free-range chickens from Trader Joe's. But I can''t find beef or dairy products that say on the labels how the cows are treated. Help? And please don't suggest I go vegetarian...when other omnivores and carnivores stop eating other animals and live on vegetation then I'll consider it, lol. But not now! Ig- the guy says at the beginning of the documentary that he's a hamburger addict! So I don't think it was made to turn people away from eating meat.

now that i'm vegan, what foods can i eat and where to buy groceries? I would also like to eat only organic foods. 1. My biggest problem is that, if i eat a vegan alternative, then how do i know that the soy used in the product is not full of pesticides etc. 2. Does anyone know a good source to buy vegan foods, online or market. 3. Any recomendations for a good chicken alternative? - I was eating a really delicious one but it turns out it's made of eggs and milk. Maybe if the eggs were free range, I know they have soy chicken, whats your favorite? 4. Free range eggs? Just because the lable says cage free, doesn't mean that the chickens are raised in humane conditions, and who knows what they are feeding them, - any suggestions on a good free range company? 5. Any bad side affects from soy? 6. Do i need any supplements, ie iron? etc. 7. Is there a ground pork alternative? 8. Any meat alternatives that don't use soy? 9. How to make garden burgers or meats from scratch? 10. Pasta? Bread? Any ok or vegan only? 5. Even though i say i'm vegan i wouldn't have a problem with eating something if; 1. it was raised in humane/ sanitary conditions. 2. Killed instantly (ie head chopped off) 3. Fed vegan/ organic animal feed.

What do I need to do to get all my chickens laying eggs?? My Black Australorps were purchased as baby chicks in Febr/March 2007, only five eggs are gathered daily from the 24hens????Started getting the few eggs about 2 to 3 months ago. What's up with that for I have raised chickens for several years and this is the first year ever for such a delay, we have and are in a 8th year drought with terrible hot summers. The hens are housed for winter and free range for spring thru fall and they always return to house to lay. They have a light on all night,water available at all times and are fed variety of feed, wheat, corn ,lay pellets ???? So as stated I have never ever incurred such a delay with this breed in starting their laying??? Please help or advise me if you've the time. Thank you

would it be cruel to keep my chicken alive? my mum and dad rear table chickens as well as having our egglaying birds. i am a vegetarian, but i cant deny that my parents give our chickens a life of luxury, more than comercial free range chickens. our last order of chicks (we raise them from one day old) came, i ended up being attatched to one of the hens and my dad named her chuckie, i was under the impression we would be feeding her chick crumbs and layers pellets and we could keep her, i spend pretty much every day with her and she comes up to me and perches on my feet so i can stroke her, she even runs if i run and answers to her name. but the other day dad picked her up and went 'ooh, she can go next week, she's fairly chunky.' after tears and explanations i found out she was eating the grower pellets and had started finisher pellets, meaning she's ready to be killed and eaten round about now. mum told me that i could decide whether i want to keep her or not, but it wouldnt be fair to keep her alive, and i'd have to giv her the price of her, like how ever much they charge in the shop for a dead chicken, which is something like 4.95 per kilo. her breeding is specifically geneticlly designed to put weight on, and now that she's so heavy it'll be near impossible to get her healthy again if i kept her. she's at risk from heart attacks and blood clots now because they put a lot of weight on in a short amount of time. but i also dont want her to go to slaughter next week! i dont want her to go to slaughter at all. i know how those places work and they meet guidelines and regulations, but its still cruel, because they have to deal with so many animals. some dont get stunned and then get their throats cut, feathers plucked and sometimes even get gutted while they are still alive. my question is, should i keep chuckie alive and let her live her life, at risk from heart attacks, strokes and blood clots? or should i say my goodbyes now, stay away from her and let dad take her with the others next week?

what breeds of chickens should i get? we live on a little over 5 acres with a barn and horse pasture. we have strong feelings about factory farming and would like to not be supporting this and raising our own chickens for eggs. not meat. we would probably get a coop good for 6-8 hens (no roosters). i want a varitety so here is what i think that i would like to get. 3 rhode island reds, 2 barred rocks, 1 or 2 easter eggers (or the name that starts withan a that i forgot to spell), and i really want a silkie as a pet. we know where we can buy 1-3 day old chicks locally with out them having to be shipped but do you know of a hatchery or breeder (not expensive, that breeds black or blue or splashed colored silkies in the dallas fort worth area of texas or if it is a hatchery that shipps them, they wold let us only buy one or two? also, what are your thoughts on the breeds that i have chosen. our chickens would not stay in the coop all the time, but would be free range but at night go into the coop. they would always have the freedom to go back into it during the day. i am a first time owner. yes i know that silkies are not good egg producers but i love their beauty and have heard great things about them being like dogs and i want one just as a pet.

what one of these are the best science topic? Scientific Category Behavioral Science Biochemistry, Medicine, Health, and Microbiology Botany and Zoology Computer Science Earth and Space Science Engineering Environmental Sciences Mathematics Physical Science Behavioral Science Cell Phones and Driving: Does cell phone use affect driving ability in a video game simulation? Dogs and Stress Relief: Does a pet help relieve stress and anxiety for children at a cancer treatment center? Eyewitness Testimony: How reliable are eyewitness reports? Food: Do students prefer meat or vegetables for lunch? Learning: Do students learn more from a "live" lecture or a video lecture? Learning: How does music influence learning and memory? Learning: Is there a relationship between eating breakfast and school performance? Memory: Do daily memory-oriented activities slow memory loss in older people? Memory: Do mnemonics actually help people remember things? Memory: Do students remember a sequence of letters and numbers better if they hear or see the sequence first? Memory: Is there a difference in short-term memory between boys and girls? Pain: How do cancer patients and pharmacy students compare in their attitudes to pain? Reflexes: How does age affect the ability of drivers? Reflexes: How does reaction time in teenagers depend on the loudness of a sound? Reflexes: How does talking on a cell phone or listening to music affect reaction time? Seeing or Hearing: Do you do better at a task if you see the instructions or if you hear the instructions? Sleep and Grades: Does the amount of sleep that students get affect their grades? Tests: Does how difficult you expect a test to be affect how well you do? Vision: Does the accuracy of vision testing results depend on previous familiarity with the test symbols being used? Back to top Biochemistry, Medicine, Health, and Microbiology Aspartame: Does the sweetener aspartame affect the life cycle of mealworms? Aspirin and Thinning Blood: What's the minimum daily aspirin dosage required to thin blood? Bacteria: Are antibacterial hand lotions effective in reducing bacteria populations? Bacteria: Are Coliform bacteria present in store-bought packages of ground beef? Bacteria: Are restroom door handles contaminated with bacteria? Bacteria: Does reusing water bottles increase their bacterial content? Bacteria: How clean are the tops of soda cans, and what is the most effective way to clean them? Bacteria: How do caffeine and nicotine affect bacterial growth? Bacteria: How do the antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria in chickens and horses compare? Bacteria: How do the bacterial populations of free-ranging and traditionally raised chickens differ? Bacteria: How effective is a fungus from an extreme environment in killing bacteria? Bacteria: How well do we wash our hands? Bacteria: What antibacterial properties do extracts from basil and mint plants have? Bacteria: What antibacterial properties do various pine extracts have? Bacteria: What effect do ultrasound and very high magnetic fields have on the growth of Escherichia coli? Bacteria and Honey: How do the antimicrobial capabilities of raw honey change after the honey is treated with heat, ethanol, and ultraviolet radiation? Bacteria and Makeup: Does clarifying makeup inhibit bacterial growth better than normal makeup does? Bacteria and Seafood: Can treating fresh fish with antibacterial washes improve seafood safety? Bacteria and Soap: Do antibacterial soaps kill bacteria or select for resistant bacteria? Bacteria and Soap: Do soap bars with recessed brand-name imprints harbor more bacteria than flat bars do? Blood Pressure: What effect does playing a video game have on a person's blood pressure? Blood Pressure: What effects do garlic and vitamin C have on high blood pressure in people? Body Temperature: How does eating hot or cold foods change a person's body temperature? Caffeine: Are the motor skills of teachers or students affected more by caffeine? Caffeine: How do people who are more than 60 years old differ in their response to caffeinated coffee from people who are less than 60 years old? Caffeine: What effect does caffeine have on Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies)? Cell Phones and Pacemakers: Can a cell phone placed near a pacemaker patient's heart change the patient's heart rate? Cigarette Smoke: How does cigarette smoke affect human cell lines? Diabetes: How does exercise affect blood sugar levels in diabetics? Diabetes: What effect does cinnamon have on blood glucose levels in diabetics? Diets: Does the Atkins high-protein diet really work? Drugs: Which pill dissolves the fastest? Exercise: Does body fat content or age affect heart rate response to exercise? Exercise: How does exercise affect heart rate recovery? Feet: Are magnetic insoles for shoes better than conventional insoles? Fingerprint Patterns: Do family members have similar fingerp

40 hour famine, food to eat before it starts?? Me and my friends are doing the 40 hour famine for the second year in a row this year. For those of you who don't know what the 40 hour famine is, we are not going to eat for 40 hours. People sponsor you and as well as raising money for children in Africa, India or other less fortunate countries, (this year it will be for child laborers in India). You get to experience what everyday life feels like for them. It's something World Vision does. We are doing it in a group of seven and we will probably all eat diner together before we start. What are some good foods that will keep us full for as long as possible. It's hard not to be hungry when you know you can't eat but nay suggestions would be appreciated. Oh and I don't eat red meat (I basically just eat free range chicken, fish and sometimes bacon). And one of us is a vegetarian - but still eats fish =] Thank you!!

Anyone else finding foxes more ravenous THIS year (2010)? Been raising chickens-ducks-turkeys for years. High electrified fencing. Twine for hawk deterrent. Occasionally let them free range, but the foxes seem particularly ravenous this year. Anyone else in Chester County, Pa experience this?

Question for raising chicks? It has been a while since I have had chickens and I want them to be as healthy as they can. I live on an acre that has never had chickens on before. The closest chickens are 1/4 mile away. We have 6 two week old chicks, currently kept in our house. I plan to raise them organically and let them free range. I am having a hard time on the chicken websites finding out exactly what things I need to be doing in the vaccination/deworming/health department. I feel they are low risk, but what is absolutley imperative to give them? Is there a vaccination schedule like they have for dogs? Do I have to start them with the medicated food or can I stick with the organic? What should I be doing to prepare them for going outdoors other than reducing the cage temperature and putting in some grit w/ food. Any helpful websites or poultry supply stores would be appreciated.

Personal question for vegans- my method of consuming eggs wrong? I'm asking the personal input of any vegans/ vegetarians on Yahoo! Answers that may see this question. I have pet free-range chickens that I care for with love and compassion. The hens often lay unfertilized, fresh eggs almost every day or two, and I, of course, eat them. Because these eggs are not carrying the life of a future chicken, and because the chickens are my personal pets that are not raised for consumption and are cared for exceptionally well, would you consider this ethical/humane? Why or why not? If I did not collect these eggs, they would simply rot and go to waste. Thanks in advance for any and all replies. :3

Why be Vegan? I can understand not wanting to eat factory raised eggs or milk from cows that have hormones injected into them, but why not eggs from free-range chickens(they lay the eggs anyway) and why not milk from happy cows? It takes about 2 pounds of feed to make 1 pound of eggs, which is a pretty good return for the grain in terms of protein. Well there seems to be very little common ground here and I see no good argument for being vegan other than maybe the cholesterol thing which is pretty sketchy. The people of Argentina have some of the longest life spans in the world and they eat twice as much meat as Americans do. I would like to see a list of Vegan Olympic atheletes or major league football or baseball players or even a marathon runner or triathelete. By what metrics are vegans healthier than vegetarians or meat eaters? Veganism still seems to me to be an affectation of white guilt. I can think of no indiginous culture(save Budhist monks) that are vegan. Humans are opportunist carnivores. Save for Michael Jackson, I can think of no black American that claims to be vegan. We evolved as scavengers eating the marrow from lion kills and now we eat meat when we can. Without the advent of pastoralism and raising animals for food there would never be a society of any kind. Oh Where are these egg-free cultures?? Are they vegan? Just curious.

Some Quail Question.? Do you need a license to raise quails? I only want to raise them as pets and for eggs. How long do quails live? Do you have to cage quails or can you let them be free range like chickens? Instead of hatching quail from incubators cant I just slip the eggs under a bantam chicken and let her raise them? Do quail come to you when you call them or do they do their own and ignore you? What is the best egg laying quail?

Are farm raised chicken eggs more nutritional than the eggs of a chicken feed with just Purina? Farm raised chickens eat grass, fresh corn and all those goodies they can find while free ranged out in the fields...and I was asking myself... Do those (*plastic) eggs sold at grocery stores have the same nutritional value as the ones farm raised? *plastic eggs = eggs produced from a chicken that were forced to adulthood in 30 days with the help of commercial feeding products full with vitamins and hormones. Yeahh... like those said "fresh chickens" sold at supermarkets.

Earth friendly heating and lighting options on the farm...? We have started our humaine grass fed free range meat operation this year. We raise chickens, turkeys, hens (for eggs), pigs, and cattle. I put the money out for a solar fencer, but I need ideas on how to heat the brooding house for the baby chicks (35 C) I have to run two 250Watt heat lamps for them in the early spring all day, when the summer heat comes I can keep the lamps off during the day. I do several batches of chicks throughout the spring and summer. I also need ideas to keep the hens water from freezing in the winter. I dont know if there would be any realistic solar options, or maybe there are other options? We do not have alot of money, but we can work on it a bit at a time... Thankyou for your help Just so that everyone knows, I am well aware of the evironmental impact of raising animals comercialy. That is why I chose do start this very small operation. We raise all of the animals on a rotational grazing system, that actualy helps the land, not destroy it. One acre of good pasture can hold tones of polutants that would have been let back into the air if used to grow corn for fuel. You do what you can, and I will do what I can for this earth. It is my PERSONAL OPINION that a vegtable or vegan diet is not natural and therefore not healthy, I have 3 kids to think about. I though of becoming a vegatarian when I found out about how our meat was raised, it breaks my heart to know that there are animals out there that never see the light of day, and are misshandled and abused. I chose to offer other people an option for still eating a healthy balanced diet. And I know that all of the animals on our farm live well here. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I take pride in what I am doing.

Thinking of becoming a vegetarian, but...? Okay, before anyone starts in, let me say WHY I'm contemplating vegetarianism. I love animals, yes. But I'm by no means a PETA-type person. I love my meat. Beef, chicken, pork, all of it! My problem is with mass production of meat and those farming it, and its impact on the environment. This is what has me considering going veg. I think that if animals are "harvested" in a more natural, humane way, such as hunting, then that would be better. But, if you don't have the means to hunt, then what are good alternatives for mass produced meat? Free-range chicken? No hormones added beef? Are those really any different than the ones raised on mass production farms? I really don't want to cut meat entirely out of my diet, as we are carnivores, after all. The human body does need meat protein, it was built for that. I'm just looking to stop contributing to the mass production of meat. Any suggestions? Okay, okay, we're OMNIvores! I chose the wrong word when I put carnivores. Putting infant twins to bed can leave my brain a bit fuzzy. LOL My main point is that we are not herbivores, as some vegetarians might want to make us believe.

I want to keep my own chickens for laying eggs in the UK? I have been watching all these programmes about poulty and how the farming for these animals is. I think it is awful how they are raised in the UK and because of this from now on i will only buy free range!! i would like to have my own chickens for laying eggs and possible killing after they have finished layig. How do i go about this, how much will it cost and what do i need?? i know nothing about chickens but its something i really want to do because there is NO WAY i am supporting farms that are keep 4000 chickens in squalid conditions, nor am i supporting laying hens that are been kept 6 to a cage, its just wrong!! so the only way is to have my own!! please help and advise how i go about getting my own chickens Thanks xx

Retronyms? (Can anyone come up with more retronyms?)? A retronym is a term that has been created to clarify an existing word whose meaning has become ambiguous due to changes in technology or social practice. Examples: 1. Analog clocks - All clocks used to be analog so the word "analog" was not necessary until the advent of digital timepieces. 2. Free parking - When was the last time you saw a western with a parking meter attached to the hitching post? All parking was free until after World War II. Now we distinguish between free and paid. 3. Free-range eggs - They used to be just eggs before the industrialization of raising chickens. 4. Church weddings - All weddings used to be in churches. There was no need to distinguish.

Anyone have an idea on how to make the neighbors flock of guinea hens go home and stay home? We live in a rural area; neighbor raised a flock of guinea hens. They're roaming the neighborhood and coming into our yard. Into the garden yesterday. My own chickens free range but are trained to stay away from the house and garden. My dog chases them back. Having the dogs chase the guineas is a joke, they run in circles and fly up in the trees. My brother fired a gun up in the air to scare them off. Nothing scares them! We haven't complained to the neighbor, we are not 'whiney' people. Personally I find the guineas amusing but annoying. Does anything discourage them?

What animals is it practical to raise for food in a suburban garden? Chickens could present a problem with neighbors. I was thinking of rabbits, guinea pigs or rats. I can try rabbit from a butcher first to see if I like it. Guinea pig and rat is eaten in some parts of the world. The advantage of these animals is they breed fast and can be fed on kitchen waste.. If rat is tasty then lots of free range ones are around due to fortnightly refuse collections. How do I prepare and cook these animals?

What company supplies the chicken for Buffalo Wild Wings and Hooters? Hi, I am wondering what chicken companies produce the chicken for BWW and Hooters. I'm assuming it is Tyson chicken and the main reason I am curious is due to the way in which the chickens are raised. I wonder if the chicken eaten at BWW and Hooters is full of antibiotics and other growth hormones. This is why I am curious because i have a dietary problem and I now cannot eat anything with antibiotics. I tried to call the company but they wouldn't tell me about their supplier. I highly doubt the chicken they use is free range and natural because obviously for mass production it would be way to slow and expensive. All they care about is making the money as efficiently as possible with no regards to our health. There's some hope left in me that BWW and Hooter's use natural chicken, nut common sense is making me speculate otherwise. Anyway, if anyone knows this valuable information please don't hesitate to tell. Thanks.

ROOSTER fight? NEED advice 2 roosters fought last nite in roost . WHY how 2 prevent from doing again wont part with either. the birds are fine, they been together since popping there tiny heads out of there shells. Birds are 7mo. are free range and lots of room , PLEASE only ones who have or had raised chickens. ived raied before 7 yrs now and NEVER HAD THIS PROMBLEM,TKS FOLKS. APPRICATE THE HELP,,,,,,,

Why do chickens lay brown eggs.? Organically raised and free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell color is only brown; whereas non-organically and non-free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell is either white or brown.. Why is that?

Shepherd's Pie for the Conscious? Hi. I want to make Shepherd's pie, but I only eat free range, all natural chicken that's ethically raised. i wonder if there is a bean stock product i could buy to substitute for the meat? Any ideas? I will be shopping at a Stop&Shop or Price Chopper here in the northeast US. Not a Whole Foods, unfortunately. I'm grateful for any ideas. Thanks!!!

Spiritually speaking, a walk through a grocery store aisle ...? ... can explain what's wrong with the American politics. On the one hand Americans love the idea of having choice. Just go to the grocery store to buy eggs. Ok, eggs! The damn chicken eggs have aisles dedicated to themselves. There are the sizes: medium, large, extra large and jumbo. Then there are the sources: farm-raised hens, free-range hens, grain fed hens, multi-grain fed hens, organic, horomone free, extra horomone. Then there are the colors: white, brown .. Not to mention the countless brands. I mean they are a commodity for Christsakes. But, when it comes to electing a President all they have is 2 guys. It is either one or the other. Where is the justice in that? How can anyone be expected to make a decent political choice? A lot of people have personal stands on issues that none of the parties represent. There are also cases where you are with one party for a number of issues, but with the other on some major ones. You are required to choose one candidate but have to sacrifice your views on some issues you hold dear. Also, there are some issues which are really non-issues but they are made into a big deal if one of the parties keeps harping on it. For example, how much coverage was provided to the "lipstick on a pig" issue by the media just because one political party wouldn't let it go as a harmless remark. Castles, precisely! My mother had no choice. But, we're talking about a political process. How would you ensure that the level of debate remained focused if your only one opponent didn't bother to respond to any of the issues you raise?

Do vegans just wanna be different? I mean, there are plenty of vegetarians who get either free-range eggs.. and organic milk.. and vegans would still be against that. Why? To be different? To make a statement? There are even those who have their own chickens, and raise them well... why don't you vegans find ethical eggs/milk to buy

Chicken Almond Ding? I regularly ordered Chicken Almond Ding from my favorite Chinese restaurant, but had no idea exactly what was in it. So one day I decided to ask the chef what it was. "Ah yes," he told me, "The chicken is bird meat, raised on a farm and free range, all natural, very high in protein and quite tasty when cooked." "Yes, yes, I get that." I said. "I mean, what are the other ingredients?" "Ah yes," he said, "The almond is a nut, very nutritious, also high in protein, made by Blue Diamond company and slivered to decorate and flavor the chicken." "Of course, of course I know what an almond is" I said impatiently. "But what in the world does the "ding" mean?" "Ah, ding?" He answered. "That's the sound the dish makes when it's ready to come out of the microwave."

any idea?? Many vegetarians avoid meat because they believe it is unethical to consume. Some avoid animal products altogether, even honey, for the same reason. Evaluate this idea. Under what circumstances is it OK or wrong to eat meat? There is a tradition in Utilitarianism that animal deaths are acceptable, but animal suffering is not. So eating meat would be OK as long as the animal was treated well and had a life worth living. At present, most of the meat sold in the USA comes from large-scale "factory farms" with rather awful living conditions. Most of the meat is therefore ethically dubious, and buying it makes you responsible. So you should either stop eating meat, or only eat animals who have had better lives- ones hunted from the wild, or ones raised by more humane methods (free-range, etc). Here are some possible topics: 1) What's different about humans that their deaths are important, while animal deaths are not? 2) The cows and chickens at Stop & Shop are already dead, whether you buy

Home grown eggs for vegans? Dear vegans, I understand that in order to be vegans, eggs are not meant to be eaten. In fact, nothing from an animal should be eaten either from a vegan perspective. I understand that even the organic, free range egg industry has a few flaws, for instance the death of unwanted male chicks. But say we have the following scenario. You're a vegan. You're visiting you're aunt Sally's place in the hills and she has a farm. She owns a yard of chickens. Just a few. She treats her chickens well, has never killed any and gives them lots of space to wander around. Every day she collects eggs from the henhouse. One weekend, you go stay at her place and she is serving eggs for breakfast. Considering that her chickens have been home-raised and are given a pretty good life, will you still be willing to eat the eggs? The above scenario is just hypothetical. What I'm saying is that even though you might not have an aunt (or a family friend) who has a home chicken yard, would you eat eggs from chickens in that kind of situation?

If you eat ducks, where are they raised? Do they get to go swimming before we eat them? I avoid eating chicken unless it is free range because i think meat eating is naughty enough without torturing them before hand! BUT it has only just occurred to me - I've never seen a duck farm! Where does all that crispy duck originate? Is it UK produced? Is it battery farmed or do they get to go swimming first before the ho sin sauce? Shara K Yes OF COURSE it matters whether animals are treated reasonably or not during their lives! Some are born into boxes and never ever leave the box (with not enough room even to turn around)!!! It matters to me anyway, thanks for your reply.

Vegetarians can you explain this? I am not a vegetarian.. but I probably eat less meat than most people.. and very little chicken.. okay so most vegetarians say they are vegetarian because of animal cruelty.. good... fine.. BUT so many actually still eat chicken.. how do they justify this when chicken is infact the most CRUELLY raised of all livestock?? I can understand eating FREE RANGE eggs.. but thats about it.. (by the way I have 4 free range hens) so how to you/they justify this? Eggs are not unborn chicks.. unless there is a rooster present..

Are Humans evil ? Do you realize we treat animals like they are in Hell ? In the Factory Slaughter houses ? Imagine being raised in a small cage 3 feet by 3 feet with 6 other chickens ? Or if you like Veal being raised in a pen where you can't move your entire 6 months of life, I think this is evil how we treat animals, that is why I am for free range animals, at least they get to run around and have fun before they get killed.

Do I have to be a Vegetarian in order to be an Environmentalist and Animal Activist ? I really would like to help out the world alot more and hopefully become a major part of the Enviornmental movement and being an Animal Activist....hence, im 18 .....Im willing to give up meat like beef and all pork (which I barely eat to begin with) but chicken for me to give up also seems a little difficult.I wanna eat only natural and organic foods and really incorporate a vegetarian and slightly vegan lifestyle but I just wanna know peoples opinions on this whether its ideas on how to stop eating chicken or if its ok for me to eat as long as its organic and free-range.Cause alot of people always say how if your an animal activist you have to be a vegetarian but I wanna know if I just eat chicken as long as its humanly raised is it ok oh, also what about fish and seafood is that ok to eat as a animal activist? I know how even the seas are being effected by over fishing but I would like others opinions.Thanks!

Is this true or what? I know chicken egg from a store aren't fertile But I've been told by someone that eggs marked Organic or free range have secessfully hatched. Is it true that eggs marked organic or free range can hatch? I wanted to know this cause I want a chick to raise for a pet. No jokes or wise cracks excepted. But is this true or not? If so, have you hatched organic or free range eggs before? Would like an answer, thanks!

A 90% Cancer Cure Diet using Flaxseed Oil & Cottage Cheese?

Shooting animals that kill livestock? well I'm sure that this is going to piss off those cat people but i raise free range lIvestock and there are cats eating my chicken they are organic and they make me good money but ive been losing them to cats and then someone told me to shoot them sense there bothering livestock so that's what i have been doing Ive bagged about 30 or so and just wanted to see if anyone knows about the laws on that in Iowa or do i need a special permit to kill those useless animals that were put on earth just to sh!t in a box and lick them selves cats and cat people just give me the creeps Well i went out last night and bagged 6 more 4 of them had collars staying up late is hard on someone in there 50s but i saved my livestock sincerly Megan Jefferson

A 90% Cancer Cure Diet using Flaxseed Oil & Cottage Cheese?

Can you name some reasons to go vegetarian? ONE HUNDRED & ONE REASONS TO GO VEGETARIAN People Land Air Water Efficiency Animals Health PEOPLE Every year in the UK we feed our livestock enough food to feed 250,000,000 people while in the world 30,000,000 people die of starvation 20 vegetarians can live off the land required by one meat eater Every 3 seconds a child dies of starvation somewhere in the world If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 10% it would free 12,000,000 tons of grain - enough to feed 60,000,000 people (the population of Great Britain) If all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India) Intensification in animal farming has displaced 1,000,000's of people from their traditional lands - eg. indigenous people in south & central america, native americans in north america & crofters in Great Britain - this is continuing today People displaced from their lands into cities succumb to dietary deficiency, diseases, parasites & opportunistic diseases In third world countries 1 in 10 babies die before their first birthday The UK imports £46,000,000 worth of grain from third world countries to feed our livestock Due to overgrazing 850,000,000 people live on land threatened by desertification & over 230,000,000 already live on land so severely desertified that they are unable to sustain their existence & face imminent starvation 1,000,000,000 people in the west gorging on meat & dairy leave 1,000,000,000 to waste away & 3,500,000,000 teeter on the brink LAND If they continue to clear American forests to raise cattle at the present rate, in 50 years there will be none left 1 acre yields 165 lbs of beef or 20,000 lbs of potatoes 8/10 of cultivated land in the UK is used to grow food for animals (14,732,000 hectares) It takes 16lbs of high protein soya to produce 1 lb of beef Since 1945 in the UK we have lost 95% of flower meadows, 50% of ancient woodlands, 40% of heathlands, 50% of wet lands & 224,000 km of hedgerows all due to animal farming Pressure on land due to meat farming leads to soil erosion 6billion tons/year in the USA If everyone went vegetarian upto 90% of land used for animal farming could be taken out of production & used to replant woodlands, leisure activities etc. 25% of Central america's forests have been destroyed for cattle grazing since 1960 Between 1966-1983 38% of the Amazon rain forest was destroyed for cattle grazing 90% of cattle ranches established on cleared forest land go bankrupt in less than 8 years as the land becomes barren due to nutrient loss & overgrazing Overgrazing by cattle is destroying the land & increasing desertification, nearly 430 million acres in the USA alone has suffered a 25-50% reduction in yield since first grazed An inch of topsoil takes 200-1000 years to develop - yet in the USA they have lost around 1/3 of their prime topsoil in 200 years (around 7 inches) due to animal farming Land will be lost due to rises in sea level due to global warming due to animal farming AIR The destruction of the rainforest by cattle farmers is destroying the lungs of the planet & reducing the worlds capacity to replenish our oxygen supply The 1,300,000,000 cattle in the world emit 60,000,000 tons of methane per year (methane is a greenhouse gas & leads to global warming) Burning of forests, grasslands & agricultural waste associated with animal farming releases 50-100,000,000 tons of methane per year Combining these figures, 25% of methane emissions are due to animal farming (not including the billions of sheep, pigs & poultry so the real figure is much higher) Fertilizer used to grow crops to feed to animals releases nitrous oxide - thought to account for 6% of the greenhouse effect Fertilizer, weedkiller & pesticides sprayed on crops enter the atmosphere creating a noxious carcinogenic cocktail CFCs are released into the air from refrigeration units used to store decomposing flesh (meat), milk & butter - CFCs are destroy the ozone layer Ammonia from animal urine also pollutes the atmosphere CO2 is released by burning oil & petrol in lorries, ships, abattoirs, dairies, factories etc. associated with meat & dairy production Emissions from large chemical plants which produce fertilizer, weedkiller & other agricultural chemicals are also poisoning our air WATER 25 gallons of water to produce 1lb of wheat & 2500 gallons to produce 1lb of meat UK farm animals produce 200,000,000 tonnes of slurry (liquid excrement) every year, the majority of which ends up in our rivers Bloody waste water from abattoirs ends up in our rivers In the USA every second humans produce 12,000 lbs of effluent while farmed animals produce 250,000 lbs Nitrates & pesticides used on crops grown to feed livestock end up in our rivers Meat & dairy farming uses 70 litres of water per day per animal in the UK or 159,250,000,000 litres per year in total The water used to produce 10 lbs of steak is equivalent to the average consumption of water for an entire household for an entire year Depletion of groundwater reserves to grow crops for animals & to supply abattoirs will lead to greater water shortages Aquafers (stores of underground water) in the San Joaquin valley in the USA are being drained at the rate of 500,000,000,000 gallons/year to produce meat 18% of all agricultural land in the world is irrigated & as global warming increases (partly due to animal farming) it will cost $200,000,000 to keep these systems going The water used to produce a 1000 lb beef steer is enough to float a Destroyer battleship The liquid waste from the various parts of the meat & dairy industry flow into the rivers & from there into the seas polluting them & encouraging huge algal blooms to grow EFFICIENCY To produce 1calorie of energy from meat takes 60 calories of petrol, whereas growing grains & legumes to directly feed people produces 20 calories for each calorie of fuel used ( thats 1200 times more efficient) Meat & dairy farming uses billions of gallons of oil to run tractors, fuel ships & lorries (to move animal feed & animals), pump billions of gallons of water to irrigate fields & run slaughterhouses, power refrigeration units to prevent the corpses from decomposing & to power sewage plants to clean up some of the pollution produced Cattle convert only 6% of their energy intake (mainly grains & soya) into flesh, the remaining 94% is wasted as heat, movement (which is why they keep many animals in very close confinement), hair, bones, faeces etc 1lb of beef takes 1 gallon of petrol to produce A family of four eating beef for a year uses enough petrol to run a car for 6 months (obviously depending on how far you drive!) If the full ecological cost of meat was passed onto the consumer - the price would be quadrupled (at least) The EC spends œ100,000,000's to subsidise animal production resulting in lakes of unwanted milk & mountains of unwanted meat & butter. This money could be better spent encouraging organic fruit, vegetable & grain production In the USA in 1979 145,000,000 tons of crops were fed to cattle resulting in only 21million tons of animal bodies - the cost of the wasted crops was $20,000,000,000 Between 1950 & 1985 grain production in Europe & the USA increased massively but 2/3 was fed to animals 70% of all grain is fed to animals Eating vast quantities of animal flesh, eggs, milk & butter is a luxury that most of the planet can not afford ANIMALS Fishing with drift (and other modern) nets weakens & destroys ecosystems by indiscriminately killing billions of sea creatures & disrupting the sea bed Fishermen's nets kill 10 times as many other animals as the fish they are hoping to catch Fish caught in nets die an agonising slow death of suffocation Each year 15,000,000,000 land animals are slaughtered for food & an unknown but much larger number of sea creatures (including 1000's of dolphins caught accidentally) Chickens are crammed into battery cages with upto 3 other birds, they are unable to even spread their wings & many can not even stand up Unwanted male chicks (because they can't lay eggs) are gassed or pulped while their sisters go to the battery sheds Chicks are debeaked without anaesthetic to prevent them injuring each other in the unnaturally confined conditions they are kept in - this is equivalent to having your fingernails pulled out without anaesthetic Modern farming methods using growth hormones & artificial lighting mean that many chickens out grow their bones, resulting in fractured & broken legs Sows are kept tethered in stalls 1.3 x 1 metre on concrete or slatted floors - they can not even turn around Poultry raised for meat are kept in windowless broiler sheds, with around 20-30,000 in each shed, they live in an area of 10-20 cm square - fighting due to overcrowding is common & like battery hens they commonly suffer from supperating bed sores Broilersheds are artificially lit 23 hours a day to produce rapid growth Animals travel between farms & to slaughter in overcrowded transporters with no food or water - resulting in stress, injuries & deaths - legal requirements are widely ignored 95% of poultry suffer injuries before being killed & 30% suffer broken bones Problems with stunning practices mean that many animals have their throats slit while still conscious (around 6% of cattle or 200,000 per year) & are then dipped in tanks of scalding water (to loosen feathers, bristles etc.) again while fully conscious 4000 animals die spurting their blood out every minute in a British slaughterhouse Calf leather comes from animals killed at just 2 weeks old Cows were fed on the ground up remains of other cows & sheep - the result is thought to be BSE (mad cow disease) in the USA cattle are fed partly on recycled plastic pellets Cows only give milk for 10 months after they have a calf - so they are routinely artificially inseminated (ie. mechanically raped) to keep them pregnant & milking - their calves are taken away (usually at 12 hours old) for meat or export to veal crates Cows would naturally live upto 20 years but are slaughtered after 5-7 years when their milk production begins to fall In the UK animals are killed by first being stunned with electricity or a captive bolt gun (ie. a bolt is fired into their heads) before having their throats slit & being plunged into boiling water - all this happens on a production line with the animals being hung upside down from a moving conveyor belt - this is factory farming "Animals are those unfortunate slaves & victims of the most brutal part of mankind" - John Stewart Mill (philosopher) Veal calves are confined in stalls in the dark, unable to move & are fed on pigs blood , chocolate & dried milk (we are drinking the rich fresh milk of their mothers) Cows naturally produce 5 litres of milk per day for their calves - under the intensified systems of modern farming they produce 25-40 litres per day - resulting in swollen & inflamed udders - at this rate they are soon worn out Large areas of land are under monoculture to grow crops to feed to animals - these areas are wildlife deserts supporting fewer & fewer species. HEALTH Vegetarians have a 20% lower rate of mortality from all causes (ie. they live longer & don't get sick as often) Meat is full of traces of antibiotics, hormones, toxins produced by stress & pesticide residues that become concentrated from all the crops they have eaten Fish contain heavy metals & other pollutants -many of which originated on farms The world health organisation recommends a diet low in saturated fat, sugar, salt & with plenty of fibre - exactly what you get on a vegan/vegetarian diet Farmed animals contain upto 50% saturated fat in their bodies Vegetarians have 24% reduced risk of getting heart disease & Vegans a 57% reduction (heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK accounting for 50% of deaths) Obesity is rare in vegetarians, obesity is related to many diseases Vegans & vegetarians have lower blood pressure & cholesterol levels - high levels are associated with heart disease, strokes & kidney failure Vegetarians have a 50% reduced risk of dying of diabetes Vegetarians have a 40% reduced level of cancer than the general population thought to be because they have a higher intake of vitamins A,C & E Vegetarians have a reduced risk of developing gall & kidney stones 80% of food poisoning is due to infected meat (faeces, bacteria etc.) after all meat is decomposing flesh - most of the rest is due to salmonella in eggs Osteoporosis due to calcium loss from bones is mainly due to the sulphur content in meat & casein protein in milk that cause calcium to be lost in the urine - the countries with the highest meat & dairy consumption are those with the highest levels of brittle bones 50% of people do not have the enzyme to digest milk properly & milk allergy is related to asthma & eczema Meat eaters have double the rate of Alzheimers disease as Vegans & Vegetarians - some people also think that Parkinsons disease is also linked to meat eating Egg yolk is a dense concentration of saturated fat & the white is high in albumin protein associated with leaching calcium into your urine. Butter is 80% saturated fat, cream is 40% saturated fat & cheese is 25-40% saturated fat Meat eaters are two and a half times more likely to get bowel cancer than Vegetarians The cling film used to wrap meat in supermarkets & butchers contains chemicals linked to falling sperm counts in men Chinese people (living mainly on a vegetarian diet) consume 20% more calories than Americans but Americans are 20% fatter Of 2,100,000 deaths in the USA in 1987, 1,500,000 were related to diet (ie. meat & dairy) AND I COULD GO ON ! If you've read this far, I hope that you are beginning to see that the Meat & Dairy industry is a major contributor to misery on this planet. It is destroying the health of people in rich countries, starving those in poor countries, it is torturing & killing billions of animals every year and in the meantime it is one of the major factors in the destruction of the environment - so what does the meat & dairy industry have to say in it's defence? Well their only real point is usually "Meat is tasty" - fair enough a lot of people enjoy the taste of meat - but there are plenty of delicious alternatives (just consider the huge range of vegetarian dishes in Indian cooking - one of the oldest & most sophisticated cuisines in the world) and if you really crave meat & dairy, nowadays there are plenty of healthy non animal alternatives - just look in the supermarket & health food shop. So I hope you will agree it's pretty pathetic to consider all the evidence & then say "well I know you're right about the environment & health & the animals - but I just love my meat" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: ARC is @nti-copyright throughout - Copy and distribute any part as you wish. Problems with links or suggestions to improve ARC's site - Let us know about them. Om Shanti [Main Page] [Top] [More Articles on Health] PICK ONLY ONE OF THE REASONS YOU LIKE BEST!

Who wants to build six packs abs? I have been receiving a lot of e-mail lately about diet. In the past, I was never concerned about what I ate. I just went to the gym, trained hard, and that was the extent of my routine. Not until recently did I realize the power diet has over the way your body looks and performs. I believe that diet is at least 75% of the fitness equation. In this article, I'm going to describe in detail what I have learned about diet during my 12-week transition period. When to Eat and How Often This might sound strange, but you have to eat more often to lose fat and gain muscle. During my transition period, I never ate less than 6 meals a day. •Try to eat every 2 to 3 hours. •Do not eat complex carbohydrates after 6:00 p.m. or four to five hours before going to bed. •Try to eat one gram of protein per pound of lean body mass on lifting days and .8 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass on non-lifting days. •Never eat more than 70 grams of protein in one meal. Carbohydrates When I think of carbohydrates, I think of energy. Carbohydrates supply our bodies with the energy it needs to make it through a workout. Without an adequate supply of carbohydrates, the body goes into carbohydrate deprivation. This is called a state of ketosis (meaning our body is using protein as energy). This is not a good state to be in for long because it will rob the body of muscle tissue in an effort to create energy. On the other hand, if too many carbohydrates are consumed, they convert into stored fat. The idea is to consume just enough carbohydrates to make it through our workouts with sufficient energy. I have broken down carbohydrates into these three categories: •Simple carbs: These are sugars, or quick energy. They are absorbed very quickly into the body. Ex. Anything with sugar, also fruit •Complex carbs: This is where you get long-term energy for the day. These are long chained carbohydrates that brake down slower, giving us energy over a prolonged period of time. Ex. Oatmeal, potatoes, pasta, rice, breads •Fibrous carbs: These are things like vegetables. I think of them as roughage in order to stay regular. Make sure you include them in you later meals when you can't eat complex carbs. They are also a good source of vitamins. Ex. Leafy vegetables like lettuce. Protein Proteins are the building blocks of our muscles. Without a sufficient amount of protein in our diet, our muscles will not have the raw materials that they need to build up, or even hang on to what is already there. Net protein utilization: Not all protein is created equal. Different foods are absorbed more than others. For example, egg white protein is absorbed at 88%. That means we get about 9 eggs to our muscles. On the other hand, chicken breast are absorbed at 68%, meaning we get about 7 breasts to our muscles. It is imported to eat a wide verity of protein foods though; no one protein source has all the amino acids we need. •Whey protein (100%): the best source of whey protein is from protein supplements. It is also absorbed very fast by the body, so it is best to take this when your body needs amino acids quickly: like right after a workout or when you first get up in the morning. •Egg whites (88%) •Fish (78%) •Chicken breast (78%) •Soy protein: My one bit of advice would be to try and stay away from soy protein. It is not absorbed very well by the body. Fats We normally think of fats as being bad. The fact is certain fats are essential to building muscle and carrying out various functions of the body. There are 2 fat types we need to be concerned about: •Saturated fats: these are the bad fats. Avoid these fats as much as possible. You will find these types of fats mostly in meats •Unsaturated fats: these are the good fats. They are a good energy source and help us build muscle. You can find from plant oils. Peanuts are also a good source. Water Do not under estimate the importance of water! If you are looking to get lean, water will be your best friend. Drink as much as you can and as often as you can. Also, it is very important to drink lots of water when you're eating large amounts of protein to clean urea from the system. Vitamins & minerals As resistance training athletes, we have a greater need for vitamins & minerals. When we workout and bring blood to our muscles it is important that our blood is full of those essential vitamins & minerals if we want to grow. Supplements Supplements are just that, meaning they are used to supplement your diet, not replace it. Don't ever think of it that way. Hierarchy of supplements: I developed this hierarchy of supplements based on what I thought were the most important and also by price. •1. Proper diet: Without proper diet you are just wasting money on supplements. Start here! Do not think that supplements are going to do it for you alone. •2. Multi-vitamin & mineral: It is very important to have all your vitamins & minerals when resistance training. Most of us are lacking in some areas, make it a priority to make this your first supplement. •3. Protein powder: It is usually very hard to get all the protein you need from real foods. Powders make it much easier. Also, these powders are absorbed fast by the body making them ideal after workouts or before and after sleep. •4. Creatine: This is great for harder workouts. It also makes you muscles hang on to water, giving them a better environment to grow. •5. L-glutamine: This is an important amino acid in muscle recovery •6. Branch chained amino acid: These are great before and after workouts along with L-glutamine because it gives your muscles all the amino acids it needs to repair and grow. •7. ZMA: This helps you release more growth hormone while you sleep, increasing your size and strength. •8. Thermogenic: These really help in the fat loss process. They also help you hang on to more muscle while dieting due to the fact you can eat more. •9. Meal replacement: Although very expensive, meal replacements make it much more convenient to get some of your meals in. Also, you can get in more meals than if you were to eat only real foods. "The golden hour" Remember "The golden hour" because it will make things so much easier for you. "The golden hour" is a window of opportunity we have to get everything we have depleted in our body back in a short amount of time. Think of your muscles as a gas tank: When you workout, you use gas for energy or in this case glucose. After a workout, our muscles are in a unique state. They are able to fill back up very quickly leaving you full for the next workout. If you wait to long, your muscles don't fill back up as easily and the carbs you eat are more likely to be stored as fat. Doing this will also let you take advantage of insulin's muscle building effects from the simple carbs you have ingested. You want to ingest 50-75 grams of simple carbs right after a workout. Also, this is when you want to take your protein shake because it will absorb quickly and supply your muscles with the amino acids that they need. Insulin This is a very complicated subject, but all we need to know is that insulin can help us build muscle or can make us fat depending on the timing. Insulin is released by the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels. We can achieve a high blood sugar level by ingesting simple carbs. Like "the golden hour" we have a window of opportunity to take advantage of the muscle building effects of the insulin without getting fat. We have about 4 or 5 hours after we workout to take advantage of insulin. If we take in too many simple carbs out of this window, we are very likely to store fat. Cheat day The theory behind the cheat days is you take one day every 2 weeks to eat anything you want and actually get leaner. It might sound crazy, but it worked for me. When you eat low carbs for a time for body begins to think it is not getting all the food it needs (because your not storing any fat) and begins to slow down your metabolism. When you bombard your body with food on that one day, it tricks your body into thinking it has all it needs and speeds your metabolism back up. I can tell you from experience, every day after a cheat day I felt leaner and looked better. Ketosis This is when your body uses protein for energy. This happens when we have too few carbs in the body or when we over train. I went into the state of ketosis for only the last week of my 12-week transition for a couple of reasons: (1) I wanted all of my muscles to shrink down so when I carbed back up, my skin would be tighter. (2) When you go into ketosis it seems to bring the water out from under the skin. Don't go into this state to loose fat. Without carbs your body can not burn fat effectively. You will loose weight rather quickly, but only because you don't have as much glycogen in the muscle. Also, you are simply loosing water. Remember that proteins are the building blocks for muscle and that means they are fair game for energy when in the state of ketosis. I would not recommend going into this state unless you are trying to get into a super ripped state for a short amount of time, like for a bodybuilding contest. Here are some tips: Keep A Training Journal Detail and record your workout routines and poundages. Each week refer to them and select a few lifts on which to increase the weight. A log will provide a good indication of your training progress and of which exercises are working for you. This allows you to eliminate lifts that are not producing results. Eat Several Small Meals A Day Eating this way insures you are providing your body with adequate nutritional support. Frequent small meals provide a consistent supply of nutrients for the most efficient muscle growth. Many diets provide inadequate, below maintenance levels of calories and nutrition. This results in catabolism of muscle tissue. Eat Protein Try to eat at least 1 gram of protein per lean pound of body weight daily. This is critical for people engaging in high-intensity resistance exercise because they need increased amounts of protein to support muscle growth. This goal can be easily met by supplementing the diet with amino acids or protein. Eat right, and treat your body with respect. Proper exercise will not counteract bad eating habits and poor eating patterns. Avoid Distractions Have conversations before and after workouts if you like, but once the workout begins, become self-centered, serious and selfish with time. Vary Your Program You must become your own exercise scientist. After a period of time, muscles become conditioned to the same routine and exercises--in other words they become immune to the workout. Gains become null. This can be overcome by periodically varying the order, exercises, and muscle groups. Keeping new angles and new exercises incorporated into your routine causes "muscle confusion" which forces muscles to break down more easily. Increase Your Weight Only by increasing the weight as often as possible will you provide muscles with the stimulus to protect themselves from future assaults by building up more muscle mass. This is the single most important fact for increasing muscle size and strength. Train Hard, Not Long Cut back on the amount of lifting you do and raise your intensity level. High-intensity muscular contractions are an absolute requirement for stimulating rapid, large-scale increases in muscular size and strength. Muscles respond to stimulus. Completing an arbitrarily chosen set of reps will not make muscle grow. You must take the last rep to failure--this is the most productive lift. Keep workouts relatively short. Overtraining in the quest for size can halt progress. Overtraining is a common and often fatal mistake made by novice and intermediate bodybuilders. Heavy lifting should not exceed much more than 30 minutes. Train For A Complete Physique It is great to develop exceptional muscle mass and tone, but it is a sorry state of affairs when there is so much body fat on your frame that the muscles you have worked for so hard don't even show. Add some aerobic training to your routine. Twenty minutes of aerobics daily is usually plenty. Calculate your aerobic heart rate by taking 220 minus your age and multiplying that by 70%. Focus On The Muscle Group You Are Working By concentrating on a specific muscle, you will automatically isolate it more. Do not rely heavily on machines. Free weights are more efficient for muscle growth. Breath Corectly Proper breathing is very important. Breathing supplies oxygen to the muscle cells, which is necessary for muscle contraction, and helps deliver energy and build the muscle. Exhale when you lift the weight. Inhale when you lower it. Concentrate On The Negative Most of the damage, and thus gains, in muscularity is caused during the negative (eccentric) portion of the lift. It is more important for growth to control the weight when lowering it than when pressing it upwards (concentric/positive). Concentrate on the negative portion of the lift. That is, lower the weight more slowly than you press it up. Maintain Constant Resitance A lift should be preformed with constant tension. Pressure should remain constant on the muscle group you are training throughout the exercise. May times this can be avoided by not locking out the joint in a effort to rest momentarily. Full Range Of Motion People make serious mistakes by not completing a full range of motion in their lifts. They either miss the top or bottom range. Focus On Form, Not Weight While you should always train as heavily as possible and increase the weight as often as you can, you must also perform the exercises using good form. Heaving a lot of weight can make you feel macho, but improper form will keep you from developing the best physique. Achieve Peak Contraction This is a training principle that turns the average "rep" into a growth-producing blitz. Rather than merely moving the weight up and down, you should actively squeeze it hard for a second at the peak of contraction. Rest Is Critical Allow at least 72 hours of rest before training the same muscle group. Some people may need more recovery time. Very few can get by with less.

Why do chickens lay brown eggs.? Organically raised and free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell color is only brown; whereas non-organically and non-free range raised chickens lay eggs that the egg shell is either white or brown.. Why is that?