Jamies Fowl Dinners....

[pastafreak]

Is anyone else watching this...and it has nothing to do with whether or not you like J.O........I had never realised just how cramped the conditions are that caged hens are kept in...it is really sickening.

[tiggerblue10]

What about the male baby chicks that are gassed or shredded. I was quite upset watching it but I know it goes on all the time.

[pastafreak]

Oh knobby-wake up!!!...I will return...

[whiffey]

It will make sod all difference. We watched that ghastly tub of lard trying to save 30p buying ultimate cheapo chicken. She had enough money for fags though. Multiple kids because as the salt of the earth she has to reproduce her kind to keep the human race going.

I buy only verified free-range chicken, but while there are horrible tubs of lard around I suspect I am wasting my time.

[Jugglering]

I'm a veggie (not surprisingly !)

[Whickerman]

Here's the thing. I went to Tesco tonight, and after Hugh FW's shows I decided to look for Free-Range chicken. I laughed about the small actual difference in price shown in the programme, I think some man mentioned 80p a bird?

Anyway, i'm in Ireland, and I picked a pack of two free range chicken fillets off the shelf. They cost �10.40 for the two. That's �7.85 at today's exchange rate. I could also go to the counter and get 8 standard fillets for the same money - so now i'm starting to see the side of the people who mentioned the cost as a factor.

We always buy free-range eggs, in fact the supermarket really only has free range at this stage, and the laws of supply and demand means the price is much lower than some years back. I really hope the same happens with the meat products, or chicken will be a rarity in my house, just like it was when my parents were growing up.

[meglet]

Whickerman, that works about at an extra �1.45 per bird. Ok its not 80p but its not that far off. If you eat more than two whole chickens a week its not much. Plus on Hugh's program he showed how to use the whole of the chicken, not just eat the breat and throw the rest away. And if you can make a risotto with stock made from a chicken carcass you are also getting the most out of the bird.

[Whickerman]

Meglet - you've misunderstood - the figures are euro conversion to pounds.

The price of free range is almost exactly 4 time that of the standard bird - of course it wouldn't be an issue for a couple of quid, but here's the maths:
8 standard fillets: �10.99
8 free range fillets : �41.60.

Hopefully demand will force prices down soon.

[pastafreak]

I totally agree with your remarks,whickerman......supply an demandis,I think the key to change, and it won't happen overnight. The goals being set by the major supermarket chains is promising

[Whickerman]

I think the demand's been there in the UK for a while now, hence your lower prices. Hopefully we'll catch up soon.

[meglet]

Whickerman, my mistake, apologies. I thought you had posted �7.85 for two birds, not two fillets.