All articles tagged with #chickens
Humans primarily eat chickens because they are easy to domesticate, farm efficiently, and are more palatable compared to other birds like swans or seagulls. The history of chicken consumption dates back thousands of years, with their popularity boosted by their suitability for domestication and their role in entertainment such as cockfighting.
A woman from the San Francisco Bay Area was convicted of trespassing and conspiracy after rescuing four chickens from a processing plant, sparking debate over animal activism and legal boundaries. She faces over five years in prison, with her legal team planning to appeal, highlighting tensions between activism and property laws.
A study in Nature Food shows that preventing just one hour of intense pain in chickens costs less than a hundredth of a cent, highlighting the minimal economic barrier to improving animal welfare through the adoption of slower-growing breeds and higher standards, challenging assumptions about the costs of welfare reforms in animal agriculture.
A major US egg farm, Hickman's Egg Ranch in Arizona, has lost 90% of its chickens due to a bird flu outbreak, highlighting ongoing risks of endemic avian influenza in the US and its impact on the poultry industry and egg prices.
Bird flu has infected Hickman Farms, leading to the death of 6 million chickens and layoffs, highlighting a serious outbreak in local egg production facilities.
Researchers at Penn State discovered that the diabetes drug metformin can increase egg production and improve reproductive health in aging hens by altering liver gene expression, potentially benefiting sustainable poultry farming without risking human food safety.
Over 4 million chickens in Iowa are being culled after a highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, adding to a yearslong outbreak that has now affected dairy cattle as well. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 92.34 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in 2022. While the risk to the public remains low, workers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, with three human cases confirmed in the U.S.
Stardew Valley's upcoming update 1.6 will introduce a new farm type called Meadowlands Farm, featuring chewy blue grass that animals love and starting players with a coop and two chickens. This significant addition provides a unique head start for players and is set to release on Tuesday, March 19.
Robert Irwin, son of Terri and Steve Irwin, announced the passing of their beloved chicken, Nacho, on TikTok, expressing sadness at the loss but also introducing two new chickens, Waffles and Mochi. The news garnered mixed reactions from TikTok users, with many expressing condolences for Nacho and welcoming the new additions to the Irwin family.
Over 1.3 million chickens are being culled on an Ohio farm after an outbreak of bird flu was detected. This is part of a larger effort to contain the disease, which has resulted in the killing of 8.1 million birds on commercial poultry farms in the US this year. While human cases of the disease remain rare, the bird flu has cost the government approximately $660 million and has led to increased prices of eggs and poultry. Signs of avian influenza in birds include loss of appetite, lethargy, sudden death, eyelid swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Over 1.3 million chickens are being culled on an Ohio farm after an outbreak of bird flu was detected. This is part of a larger effort to contain the disease, which has resulted in the killing of 8.1 million birds on commercial poultry farms in the US this year. The bird flu has cost the government approximately $660 million and has led to increased prices of eggs and poultry. Signs of avian influenza in birds include loss of appetite, lethargy, sudden death, eyelid swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Nearly 1 million chickens will be culled at a Minnesota egg operation, marking the largest death toll at a single poultry farm in the state during the current bird flu outbreak. The virus, which is typically spread by wild migrating birds, has resulted in the culling of approximately 5.5 million birds in Minnesota since early 2022. Despite the outbreaks, Thanksgiving turkey availability and prices are not expected to be impacted. Bird flu does not pose a risk to food safety, but it did contribute to record-high egg prices last winter. In Iowa, the largest egg producer in the US, 16 million birds have been killed in the outbreak, accounting for over a quarter of the nationwide death toll.
Gene editing technology has the potential to create disease-resistant chickens, which could help eradicate bird flu. A recent study published in Nature Communications demonstrated that gene editing can protect chickens from bird flu by targeting proteins vital for all strains of the virus. The study found that gene-edited chickens displayed complete resistance to the virus, and further experiments showed that editing multiple proteins could completely suppress the virus. This breakthrough could significantly reduce economic losses and the risk to human health caused by bird flu outbreaks. However, supportive government regulations will be necessary to promote the development of gene editing for animal health and welfare.
Scientists have used CRISPR gene-editing technology to create chickens with some resistance to avian influenza, according to a study published in Nature Communications. While the research shows promise, it also highlights the limitations and potential risks of the approach. Breakthrough infections still occurred, especially at high virus doses, and the virus quickly adapted when only one gene was edited. Creating flu-resistant chickens will require editing multiple genes and proceeding carefully to avoid driving further virus evolution. However, if successful, gene-edited chickens could eliminate the need for routine vaccination and provide a new way to make permanent changes in disease resistance.
A truck carrying chickens overturned on a busy metro Atlanta highway, blocking all northbound lanes and scattering live and dead chickens across the roadway. The driver was treated for injuries, and it took several hours for crews to clean up the crash and gather the surviving chickens. The cause of the accident is under investigation.