All About Chicken, Free Range or Organic

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Well according to the iconoclastic author Samuel Butler, the chicken is just an egg’s way of making another egg. There is a certain kind of logic to that thought, another Butler quote “A drunkard would not give money to sober people. He said they would only eat it, and buy clothes and send their children to school with it.” Well, enough of Butler and funny quotes. I think the only reasonable answer is that the chicken and the egg have to exist together, neither one could exist without the other.

Chickens: (Gallus Domesticus) According to recent evidence the practice of domesticating chickens goes back 10 thousand years in Viet Nam and Thailand, this rivals the early records of domesticated sheep and goats in archaeological records. Chickens were first bred and domesticated from Red Jungle Fowl: (Gallus Gallus) native to South East Asia. Chickens, pigs and dogs were all first domesticated in the Lapita culture of Oceania. It is likely (but uncertain) that chickens were first domesticated for their eggs. Chickens belong to a group of birds that will keep laying eggs until they accumulate a certain number, this group of eggs is called a clutch, when the farmer removes some eggs the hen will lay more.

The Romans used eggs regularly and Apicius left us written  recipes for a kind of omelet, also a kind of a savory custard as well as instructions for how to fry, boil and soft cook eggs. The Greeks and other ancients thought that cocks were a worthy sacrifice to their gods. As Socrates was dying he is supposed to have said “We owe a cock to Asclepius” The Egyptians were just as familiar with chickens, with records going all the way back to the 18^th Dynasty as the “bird that lays every day”. The 18^th Dynasty was from 1550 B.C. through 1292 B.C. and this also includes the time of Tutankhamen. Aristotle and Pliny both reported that the Egyptians hatched eggs by using the heat in decomposing dung to incubate the eggs. Chickens also have a history that has nothing to do with the table. Cockfighting has been recorded in India as early as 500 B.C. and the “sport” spread around the ancient world. Chickens lent their names to language in many ways, cocky, cockpit, chicken, coquette to name a few.

Intensive Poultry Farming, Most of the chicken we see in the market is raised using intensive farming practices. Worldwide over 50 billion chickens are produced for food each year. According to the Worldwatch Institute, 74 percent of the world's poultry meat, and 68 percent of eggs are produced this way. Intensive systems of raising chickens produce cheap meat for the consumer. Inside the factory farm chicken houses up to 40,000 birds are crammed, at 2 birds to the square foot, with low levels of artificial light, on almost constantly. They are fed large amounts of antibiotics and drugs to keep them alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them. The antibiotics make chickens grow so large, so fast that they often become crippled under their own weight. Good for the farmers profits, uncertain how good it is for us, if we are ingesting those antibiotics we are helping develop drug resistant bacteria in our own systems. The use of hormones to promote the growth of chickens is illegal in the U.S. One of the controversial drugs that is prevalent in the industry is Roxarsone, this drug contains arsenic, highly toxic to humans but the FDA has not found harmful levels of arsenic in chicken meat. (unless this is another place where industry controls government rather than the government regulating business, you decide.) The Consumer Reports magazine did detect arsenic in a small number of samples of chicken livers but the FDA did not and the FDA is in charge.

Free Range There are two alternatives to intensive farming techniques; the first is free range farming. For someone concerned about the ethics of animals being raised for food, free range is much better for the chicken, free range chickens are allowed to forage for their food in a natural way in a pasture; the birds are under less stress and live in cleaner conditions than intensively raised birds. While this is better for the chickens there are no other differences in production practices, they may still use antibiotics in raising these free range birds

Organic. This is as good as chicken gets. Organic chickens are always free range IF THEY ARE LABELED: USDA Certified Organic. Antibiotic growth promoters cannot be used by organic farmers so sick organic birds must be treated with appropriate veterinary medicine. They may be given antibiotics if they’re very ill, but they cannot be given drugs on a regular and routine basis. Organic poultry is reared on a specially formulated feed containing only cereals, vegetable protein, a small amount of fish meal, and a vitamin/mineral supplement. To be certified as fully organic, chickens must be fed a diet containing grain which has been grown organically, without artificial fertilizers or sprays. Such feed is expensive, and therefore organic chicken is more expensive. The most ethical organic farmers will use feed which is also guaranteed to be free from genetically modified feedstuffs (GMOs). Once you taste an organically raised chicken you may find it difficult to switch back. We’ve all heard our parents say how things don’t have as much flavor that they did when they were young. If you are a disbeliever all you need to do is try a organic chicken, the flavor stands out, is deeper and more complex and it tastes the way chicken used to taste. This link is to a downloadable PDF file: Raising Organic Chickens, Salmonella , and the Issues of Outdoor Access

Zombie Chickens??
I wish this were a bad taste joke (and I have not yet researched the truth of this claim) but Philosopher Paul Thompson from Purdue University has suggested “The Blind Chicken Solution” as a means of relieving the stress felt by the chickens which are currently raised under deplorable conditions. “The headless chicken solution”, is a technologically elaborate set-up in which brainless chickens would grow like tomato plants in vertical containers. The feet and part of the brain of the chicken would be removed so the chicken would feel no pain and couldn’t scurry around like chickens without their heads, then they would be strapped into a vertical system that feeds them, stimulates their muscles and removes excrement. Perhaps this is just a move to promote veganism but more can be read here: http://www.iheartchaos.com/post/17737677872/food-project-proposes-raising-chickens-in-vertical

USDA: “Chicken Inspection
All chickens found in retail stores are either inspected by USDA or by state systems which have standards equivalent to the Federal government. Each chicken and its internal organs are inspected for signs of disease. The "Inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture" seal insures the chicken is free from visible signs of disease.”

USDA: “Chicken Grading
Inspection is mandatory but grading is voluntary. Chickens are graded according to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service regulations and standards for meatiness, appearance and freedom from defects. Grade A chickens have plump, meaty bodies and clean skin, free of bruises”

Food Safety
Chicken is mass produced and a major source of Salmonella and food poisoning, always cook chicken to at least 165 degrees. Even at this temperature you may find blood around the bones, in that case cook to 185 degrees. Use an Instant Read Thermometer to check temperatures.

Chicken Madeira with Artichoke and Grapes

Very rich, delicious and easy to make, wonderful served tossed with fettuccini like Alfredo or with wild rice, this is good enough for company but you won’t be tied up in the kitchen.

Ingredients for 1 serving

· 1 Boneless skinless chicken breast

· Pinch Salt and pepper

· ¼ Cup All purpose flour

· 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (Or Butter)

· 2 Pieces Hearts or Bottoms of Artichokes, Drained and sliced ¼” thick

· ¼ Cup Madeira wine, or Marsala or Sauterne or Your favorite

· ½ Cup Heavy Cream

· To Taste Salt and Pepper

· 1/3 Cup Seedless Red Grapes, Sliced in half (white work as well but red look nicer).

Instructions

· Pound the chicken breasts thin, or if you are going to use this over pasta cut chicken into thin strips

· Mix the salt, pepper and flour and dredge the chicken, shake off any excess

· Heat the oil in a sauté pan on medium high heat

· Place chicken in the pan and sauté till brown on both sides, remove the chicken and set aside.

· Lower the heat to medium

· Add the Madeira and deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom and sides to pick up all of the flavors.

· Add the Cream and whisk to blend well.

· When the sauce starts to boil reduce the heat again

· Simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon

· Taste and adjust the seasoning adding salt and pepper as needed.

· Put the artichokes, grapes and chicken in the simmering sauce.

· Bring back to a simmer, stir well and serve.

Find other sauces for your chicken here  
Tips and instructions on roasting are here
Spices and Herbs to use here