There is a widespread misconception that chickens today are heavier due to hormone injections. Let’s clarify: It’s a myth! The remarkable transformation in chicken size is actually the result of meticulous genetic selection and breeding practises.
Genetic Selection: Farmers have been selectively breeding chickens for generations, favouring those with desirable traits like larger size, faster growth, and improved feed conversion. This natural process has led to the development of bigger chickens over time.
Breeding for Excellence: Chicken breeding programs focus on enhancing specific genetic traits to meet consumer demands. This includes factors like meat yield, taste, and overall bird health. It’s a science-driven process, not a quick-fix solution with hormones.
Costly Alternative: It’s essential to highlight that hormones are neither a cost-effective nor sustainable method to promote chicken growth in the poultry industry. In fact, hormone use is both labor-intensive and expensive, making it an impractical choice.
Farmer Expertise: Farmers play a vital role in ensuring the well-being and productivity of their chickens. They use their expertise to provide optimal conditions, nutrition, and care to raise healthy and larger chickens.
So, next time you enjoy a hearty chicken dinner, remember that it’s the result of decades of careful breeding and natural genetic selection, not the product of hormone injections. Knowledge is power, and understanding the true factors behind chicken size can help dispel common myths.
-By Poultry Enthusiast (Project Manager | Animal Husbandry Grad | WPSA Member | Bridging Poultry with Knowledge)
