Billion Dollar Chicken Shop: New documentary reveals truth behind KFC birds
CRAMPED together by the thousands and living amid their own excrement - these are the "oppressive" conditions in which chickens destined to become part of a KFC meal are forced to live, according to reports.
A shocking new documentary titled The Billion Dollar Chicken Shop has reportedly revealed the "wretched existence" endured by some chickens who are then distributed to KFC branches across the UK.
Shown for the first time, the unbelievable footage reveals how tens of thousands of chickens are kept together in huge sheds, alive for just 35 days and living in their own excrement, reported the MailOnline.
When they are large enough, the birds are then allegedly gassed before being chopped into pieces and sent to KFC stores.
The first instalment of the three-part series, which airs tonight on BBC1, will reportedly show one farm where around 34,000 chickens are kept in one shed with few windows.
While animal rights campaigners have slammed the conditions, a farmer called Andrew, who has 35 years of experience as a supplier, apparently argued that the chickens on his farm have a "good life".
"I wouldn’t mind being a chicken in here," he is said to have told the documentary.
"As you can see, they’ve got beautifully clean feet and that is a good sign that these birds are healthy and they’ve been grown on good litter.
"You can see this is a good, healthy chicken. I can’t think there’s anything better than being sat in a chicken farm looking at chickens. You can see for yourself, they look absolutely fantastic."
Asked whether he feels it is a shame their lives end so soon, he reportedly said: "No, they probably have a short life but they have a very good life."
However, Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, told the MailOnline that the birds have "no meaningful life".
He said: "They endure a wretched existence in giant windowless sheds stinking with ammonia. A very large number die from starvation or dehydration.
"About 900million of these birds are produced in country each year about 30million-plus die in the sheds.
About 900million of these birds are produced in country each year about 30million-plus die in the sheds
"Millions of these birds, just like the ones KFC is commissioning to be produced die in sheds wretchedly and painfully every year.
"These birds are deprived of everything that makes life worth living. The next step after this is to be grabbed by their frail legs, and shoved in crates and taken off to slaughter. A great number suffer broken bones during this process."
A BBC spokesman said the documentary offers "an impartial look at KFC, one of the UK’s most recognisable businesses".
When contacted by Express.co.uk, a KFC spokesperson said: "Good animal welfare is essential for high quality food so we only use trusted and well-established suppliers, which meet or exceed UK and EU welfare requirements.
"Typically only around 10% of chickens in barns are supplied to KFC with the majority of the remainder going to major UK supermarkets.
"KFC was the first quick service restaurant to gain Red Tractor farm assured certification and we have in place our own robust standard, which is independently audited by third parties."
• The first episode of The Billion Dollar Chicken Shop airs on BBC1 at 9pm
