Walk into such a shed – if the producer will let you – and you will find up to 30,000 chickens. The National Chicken Council, the trade association for the US chicken industry, recommends a stocking density of 85 square inches per bird – less than a standard sheet of typing paper.
如果能得到鸡农的允许入棚参观，就能看到多达30，000只被饲养的肉鸡。美国养鸡业的行业协会全国养鸡协会推荐的养殖密度达到了令人震惊的每只鸡85平方英寸¾还不及一张标准打字纸的大小。肉鸡快要上市时，会把这块地方塞得密不透风。如果不把同伴们挤到一边，它们谁都无法动弹。产蛋的母鸡更是一动不动，因为它们被塞进了铁丝编的鸡笼，这样就能一层层堆叠起来，压在同伴的上面。