We eat our way through an astonishing 2.2 million chickens every day in the UK. As one of the most commonly eaten meats enjoyed by us and our pets, they are commonly farmed intensively. Unfortunately, not all farms have the standards we like to believe.

To break it down, we have highlighted a few of the key differences in the types of chicken available. A chicken’s welfare and lifespan has a direct impact on the nutrition and quality of the meat, as well as our conscience.

An intensively reared chicken spends its entire life in an overcrowded barn with no room to run around, no sunlight and no vegetation. They are so cramped that they can even develop sores on their legs and irritated skin from stress. Sorry for the graphic detail. Poor chickens.

An intensively reared chicken’s typical lifespan in 30 days from hatch to shelf.  The lack of exercise, sunlight, poor diet and unnatural growth makes their meat watery, innutritious and tasteless. We don’t ever use any of these in our chicken recipe dog food.

Free-run chickens are the next step up. They still live for 30 days from hatch to the shelf and never leave their barn. They have more space in their barn with perches and space to peck at the floor and little games for mental stimulation. Although these are happier, the lack of sunlight means their meat lacks vitamin D. They are not in their natural conditions, as they are not outside on the range. This is why don’t use them in our chicken recipe dog food.

Free range chickens spend at least 8 hours outside a day on spacious open pastures pecking, running and perching where they please. Free range chickens live for twice as long as intensively reared or free run chickens, so their muscles have more time to grow naturally, making the meat leaner and tastier. Free range chicken is rich in Vitamin A & D, which they soak up from being outdoors in the sunshine. This is why we use free range chicken in our natural and ethical dog food.

Whether it's for your food, my food or your dog's food, every chicken deserves to lead a happy and healthy life. We use 100% fresh free range chicken from East Anglia, then we add locally sourced nutritious veg and superfoods to make a complete healthy diet for the happiest of hounds. Better for your dog, better for the environment.