Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan

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Facts About Chicken

Chickens that are raised for their meat are called “broilers”.

• There are more 2,800 broiler chicken farms in Canada.
• Broiler chickens are raised in barns to protect them from the weather, predators and disease and they walk freely throughout the barn. Broiler chickens do not live in cages.
• All Canadian chicken is grain-fed. Also, you won’t find any chicken in Canada with added hormones or steroids because they have been banned in this country since the 1960s.
• The average Canadian consumes about 36 kg (almost 80 lbs) of chicken per year.
• Chicken farmers in Canada are required to follow regulations and guidelines for the care and handling of their birds. The ‘Raised By a Canadian Chicken Farmer’ Program includes rules for animal care, cleanliness, safety, and follows strict biosecurity measures to protect animal health and prevent flock infections from outside sources. That’s why farmers can only allow certain people into their barns—to keep germs out!
• Most people know that young chickens are called “chicks”. Did you know that a young female chicken is called a pullet and a young male chicken is called a cockerel?
• Chickens are fed a mixture of different grains and mineral supplements. Most farms have feeders that automatically dispense feed to the chickens.
• Chicken is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B12 and a good source of other nutrients such as zinc and phosphorous.
• Have you ever “spatchcocked” your chicken for supper? ‘Spatchcock’ is another term for splitting open your whole chicken and flattening it to cook. The main advantage of this method is that it speeds up the cooking time, whether you are grilling or oven-roasting.

Dr. Tyra Dickson from the University of Saskatchewan Poultry extension answers your questions about antibiotics and chicken:

Dr. Tyra Dickson from the University of Saskatchewan Poultry extension answers your questions “Are hormones and steroids used by farmers in chicken production?