Peter Singer

There are two kinds of chickens that are factory found. One of them are the laying hens who produce eggs. And they are still unfortunately often in standard wire cages that would not allow even a single bird to stretch her wings if she were alone in that cage. But she's not alone. There's probably three or four other hens in with her.

There are two kinds of chickens that are factory found. One of them are the laying hens who produce eggs. And they are still unfortunately often in standard wire cages that would not allow even a single bird to stretch her wings if she were alone in that cage. But she's not alone. There's probably three or four other hens in with her.

And she's standing on a wire floor, which is not really suitable for her feet. She lays eggs on the floor, which when rolled out of the front of the cage saves labour, but it's an awkward perch for her. And, of course, the weaker birds have no way of getting away from the stronger birds in these small cages.

And she's standing on a wire floor, which is not really suitable for her feet. She lays eggs on the floor, which when rolled out of the front of the cage saves labour, but it's an awkward perch for her. And, of course, the weaker birds have no way of getting away from the stronger birds in these small cages.

These cages, incidentally, are illegal in the European Union, across the entire European Union. They're also now, fortunately, illegal in California and a few other US states, but in the majority of US states, and especially those where most of the eggs are produced, they are not illegal. And when we come to the chickens raised from meat, they're not in cages, but they are incredibly crowded.

These cages, incidentally, are illegal in the European Union, across the entire European Union. They're also now, fortunately, illegal in California and a few other US states, but in the majority of US states, and especially those where most of the eggs are produced, they are not illegal. And when we come to the chickens raised from meat, they're not in cages, but they are incredibly crowded.

You might get 20,000 birds in a single shed. And if you look at a photo of it, it just looks like a white carpet across the floor of the shed. You can't see the floor. There's so many birds there. And they've been bred to grow extremely fast, so they put on weight.

You might get 20,000 birds in a single shed. And if you look at a photo of it, it just looks like a white carpet across the floor of the shed. You can't see the floor. There's so many birds there. And they've been bred to grow extremely fast, so they put on weight.

The chickens sold in supermarkets are about six weeks old, but they're as large as birds that in the past might have been twice as old as that or more. So the problem there is that their immature leg bones can hardly bear their weight. And experts who've studied the chickens say that they're in pain as they gain weight.

The chickens sold in supermarkets are about six weeks old, but they're as large as birds that in the past might have been twice as old as that or more. So the problem there is that their immature leg bones can hardly bear their weight. And experts who've studied the chickens say that they're in pain as they gain weight.

They start to be in pain just because of the weight of their body pressing down on their legs and feet, which have not matured enough to support that weight.

They start to be in pain just because of the weight of their body pressing down on their legs and feet, which have not matured enough to support that weight.

There is demand for breast meat and chickens have been bred to grow fast and to have large breasts. In fact, that's even worse for turkeys because people particularly want the breast of the turkey. And so the standard breed, the dominant breed that's sold in American soup markets is actually called the broad-breasted white.

There is demand for breast meat and chickens have been bred to grow fast and to have large breasts. In fact, that's even worse for turkeys because people particularly want the breast of the turkey. And so the standard breed, the dominant breed that's sold in American soup markets is actually called the broad-breasted white.

The bird has such a broad breast that the male actually cannot physically mate, cannot reproduce with a female unaided. So every one of these turkeys, all the turkeys that people are eating at Thanksgiving or other times, is the result of artificial insemination, which particularly the females appear to hate, just they're kind of flipped upside down. They're forced open.

The bird has such a broad breast that the male actually cannot physically mate, cannot reproduce with a female unaided. So every one of these turkeys, all the turkeys that people are eating at Thanksgiving or other times, is the result of artificial insemination, which particularly the females appear to hate, just they're kind of flipped upside down. They're forced open.

Female turkeys in the wild are very selective about who they'll allow to mate with them. But of course, they're just compelled to have this male turkey semen injected into them. They squawk, they fight against it, but they have no ability to resist in the end.

Female turkeys in the wild are very selective about who they'll allow to mate with them. But of course, they're just compelled to have this male turkey semen injected into them. They squawk, they fight against it, but they have no ability to resist in the end.

Well, I think the first ethical problem we should think about is that animals are sentient beings, that they have interests in living a decent life, not suffering pain. And we violate that interest all the time. Every one of these factories found chickens and pigs and dairy cows and laying hens. And maybe to a somewhat lesser extent, the beef cows, their lives are really bad.

Well, I think the first ethical problem we should think about is that animals are sentient beings, that they have interests in living a decent life, not suffering pain. And we violate that interest all the time. Every one of these factories found chickens and pigs and dairy cows and laying hens. And maybe to a somewhat lesser extent, the beef cows, their lives are really bad.