Volaille : un élevage de poulets en liberté

Raising broiler chickens, meeting animal welfare requirements, and maintaining a profitable business for the farmer is the equation many farmers are trying to solve. Alain Gardeils (@sualain40 on Twitter) has chosen to raise his chickens "free-range," a production method recognized by a label since 1965 in the Landes region. The first consequence of this choice of chicken farming method: economic, environmental, and health constraints are particularly significant. At the time of filming this video, in February 2021, Alain's farm in the Landes region was experiencing the full impact of the avian flu epidemic and flooding caused by record rainfall. The farmer has 16 buildings, each 60 square meters in size, housing 1,050 chickens. Spread across two sites, these mobile buildings are moved every three months, with each new "flock" of chickens, that is, with each arrival of 6,000 chicks, hatched the day before. Each year, he raises 50,000 free-range broiler chickens. Following the first avian flu epidemic in 2017, farmers must avoid all contact between the animals and humans, but the label requires that a maximum of 50% of the run be fenced. Alain chose this more demanding and restrictive farming method for ethical reasons. And to meet growing consumer expectations. "There's a French paradox," he notes, however. "We pay attention to quality and animal welfare, but that doesn't necessarily translate into the act of purchase. In the poultry section of the supermarket, consumers continue to make their choices based on price." » He emphasized this several times during our meeting: for him, all chicken farms have their place, since there must also be something for the most modest incomes. In the video, Alain agreed to detail the price of a chicken purchased from the butcher, which would cost around 15 euros. The figures given are based on his actual farming costs and market prices at the time the video was published. These can vary greatly, particularly depending on the price of feed or the costs incurred by the slaughterhouse or butcher. They are intended to give an idea of ​​what the price paid for a chicken at the butcher's represents and what the farmer receives. Alain grows seed corn, not the corn he feeds his chickens. "It may seem paradoxical," he admits. He buys his chicken feed from the powerful Maïsadour cooperative, which he chose to join. "Because I didn't take over a family farm, and when I set up, it was mainly a form of security," he explains. "The cooperative guarantees the purchase of my chickens, regardless of the market." In his chicken farming and in the way he communicates about his profession on Twitter, Alain is guided by pride. Pride in perpetuating a Landes tradition and pride in respecting an ethic that best meets societal expectations regarding animal welfare. All Earthlings! This is the series on agriculture that offers solutions for the planet, for humans, and for animals. I started it because I was tired of seeing agriculture only in terms of the problems it creates, and I wanted to meet those who passionately fight every day to make a difference, in addition to feeding us and shaping our landscapes. If you identify with my approach, don't forget to subscribe to the channel, activate the bell to receive a notification for each new video once a month, give it a thumbs up, and comment. We're all earthlings! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me:   / pierre_girard     / pierregirardjournaliste     / artepierre   #TousTerriens -------------------------------------------------------------------- Useful links: Alain Gardeils' Twitter account:   / sualain40   Follow him! The farmer posts new information, photos, and videos about his free-range chicken farm every day. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Chicken farming and the avian flu epidemic 0:38 The February 2021 floods 1:41 Free-range chickens: the principle 3:10 Visit to the farm 4:12 Growth of chickens at 40 days 5:18 A fox attack 7:17 Free-range chicken vs. organic chicken, what's the difference? 8:11 The price of chicken 9:39 The Landes forest and chickens ----------------------------------------------------------------------- React, comment, share. Subscribe and activate the bell so you don't miss my next visits to committed and inspiring farmers.