Poultry News

Poultry News

Chicken and egg shortages around the world

Due to the bird flu chicken and egg prices are increasing and this is causing farmers and hobbyists to scramble for meat and eggs. According to data from the USDA, there have been at least 58 million birds culled in 47 states due to the influenza virus. According to another report from the USDA in the past 11 years egg consumption has increased by 17%. With more demand and less products, consumers are considering raising their own backyard poultry. In addition to a shortage of laying birds, animal welfare laws are also contributing to an increase in egg prices. States like California which requires egg producers to raise cage-free hens have seen egg prices reach $7 a dozen!

In January 2023, New Zealand banned battery cages after a ten-year warning. Despite the notice, many supermarket shelves have been void of eggs. New Zealand egg producers say that it could take months to resolve. While many kiwis are thinking of starting their own backyard flocks, the New Zealand SPCA encourages beginners to do their research first, citing that in 2022 they rescued 370 chickens that were abandoned.

Japan reported its first avian flu outbreak in October 2022 and since then has culled a record 10 million chickens.  Slaked lime was provided by the government and poultry farmers in the affected areas were instructed to disinfect their farms.

If you are considering purchasing chicks this spring from a major hatchery or local feed store you may be too late. Stores have seen a 50% increase in chick sales since 2020.

Chicken Apology

“I’m so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world. Literally the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I’m in trouble,” actor Hugh Jackman said in a recent Variety magazine interview. Jackman said he did not use any steroids in preparing for his role as Wolverine in the X-Man movies, but instead at a ton of chicken. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) was not satisfied with his apology, so they rushed him a basket of vegan nuggets.  PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said, “PETA promises Hugh that going vegan will balance his karmic debt and help him get into tip-top shape for Deadpool 3. A win-win!”

Chef Tom Colicchio Launches Chicken to Combat Climate Change

In January 2023, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio promoted “Do Good Chicken” at his restaurant Vallata in New York City. This brand harvests chickens raised on a diet of what the company calls “surplus grocery food” or food waste. Due to the recycling of nutrients the company reports that each chicken saves four pounds of food destined to go to the dump and reduces three pounds of greenhouse gasses as a result. In addition to being available in NYC you can find it in select cities at Acme, Albertson’s, Giant, Safeway, Shaw’s and Target locations.

Chicken Soup Good for the Soul…But What About a Cold or Flu?

For hundreds of years chicken soup has been recommended as a remedy for cold and flu symptoms. Back in 2000  Dr. Stephen Rennard, a professor of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center did some research on chicken soup. His results in CHEST Journal showed that chicken soup inhibits immune cells that travel to the site of infection and initiate inflammation, contributing to symptoms like sore throat and cough. This was done in a lab and may not be the same in the human body. Regardless, Dr. Rennard thinks there could be some therapeutic value of chicken soup. He says that benefits may come from the emotional experience of knowing someone cares for you.

Duck Looking Dinosaur

A new dinosaur found in Mongolia posses a streamlined body – just like a modern-day duck. Natovenator polydontus may have been a swimming predator and is likely the first known nonbird dinosaur to have a body that resembles a diving bird.

The paper “A non-avian dinosaur with a streamlined body exhibits potential adaptations for swimming” was published in Communications Biology in December 2022. Illustrated by Yusik Choi 

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