Pilgrim Chicken Barn: How Many Chickens Live There?

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in 12 states, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The company has faced scrutiny for its treatment of chickens, with investigations uncovering cruel practices such as chickens being kicked and thrown and suffering from leg deformities. Undercover footage from a North Carolina chicken factory that supplies Pilgrim's revealed further animal cruelty, including birds being dumped in outdoor pits and left to die. The company has also been criticized for its use of Frankenchickens, which are selectively bred to grow large at an unnatural pace, leading to health issues and premature death. While the exact number of chickens in each barn may vary, the company's capacity to process about 36 million birds per week indicates a high volume of chickens in their barns.

Pilgrim's Pride investigated for chicken cruelty in 2014

In early 2014, an Animal Outlook investigation exposed the cruel treatment of chickens at a chicken factory in North Carolina, which supplied Pilgrim's Corp. (formerly known as Pilgrim's Pride). An investigator went undercover with a hidden camera and captured footage of the following day-to-day horrors: birds suffering from painful leg deformities, unable to walk; live birds dumped in outdoor pits, left to die of starvation, dehydration, or suffocation; and chickens being thrown against barn walls and mishandled for no work-related purpose. This investigation shed light on the standard industry practices that cause immense suffering to these birds.

The investigation in 2014 was not an isolated incident of animal cruelty at Pilgrim's Pride. In 2004, PETA released a video showing cruelty to chickens at a Pilgrim's Pride plant in West Virginia. The video prompted an investigation, resulting in the dismissal of 11 employees, including managers, and the implementation of ongoing animal welfare training for the workforce.

In 2020, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released undercover footage exposing shocking cruelty to chickens at a Pilgrim's-owned slaughter plant in Texas and a contract supplier in Georgia. The video revealed birds being punched, slammed into shackles, bludgeoned with a metal rod, and grabbed by their necks and thrown.

In 2024, Mercy For Animals reported on further investigations into Pilgrim's Pride, revealing improper handling and cruelty towards chickens. Footage showed birds being kicked and thrown against barn walls, carried outside the barn unnecessarily, and mishandled in various ways. The investigation also highlighted the use of "Frankenchickens" by Pilgrim's Pride—chickens bred to grow abnormally large at an unnatural pace, leading to health issues and increased fragility.

While the exact number of chickens in each Pilgrim chicken barn may vary, Pilgrim's Pride, as one of the largest chicken producers, processes about 36 million birds per week, resulting in almost 9.5 billion pounds of live chicken annually. This large-scale production, coupled with the incentive structure for workers based on the number of chickens caught rather than hours worked, likely contributes to the improper handling and cruelty exposed by these investigations.

Animal Outlook investigator exposes suffering of chickens

In early 2014, an Animal Outlook investigator exposed the suffering of chickens in a North Carolina chicken factory that supplied Pilgrim's Corp.—the world's second-largest chicken producer. The investigator, wearing a hidden camera, documented the following day-to-day horrors:

Chickens suffered from painful leg deformities, rendering them unable to walk. This is due to selective breeding, which has resulted in chickens growing to more than twice their size in just six weeks, compared to those in 1925. Almost a third of factory-farmed chickens suffer from severe leg deformities.

Live birds were dumped outdoors, left to die from starvation, dehydration, or suffocation. Many chickens also died before reaching the slaughterhouses due to their extreme fragility and the stress of transport.

Workers were paid based on the number of chickens caught rather than hours worked, incentivizing improper handling and cruelty. Undercover footage revealed birds being kicked, thrown against walls, and mishandled for no work-related purpose.

The investigator also exposed the use of "Frankenchickens," chickens selectively bred to grow unnaturally large at an extremely fast rate. These chickens often suffered from organ failure and heart attacks, and their bodies couldn't support their weight.

This investigation is one of many conducted by Animal Outlook, which has consistently exposed the widespread suffering and neglect standard in the industry, even in "organic" and "free-range" farms. Their undercover investigations have revealed the painful realities of animal agribusiness, with footage of abuse, mutilations, and inhumane slaughter practices.

Pilgrim's workers incentivised to mistreat chickens

Pilgrim's Pride, one of the largest chicken producers in the world, has been at the centre of numerous investigations exposing the cruel mistreatment of chickens by its workers. The company pays workers according to the number of chickens caught rather than hours worked, incentivizing workers to catch chickens very quickly, which often results in improper handling and cruelty.

Undercover footage from investigations has revealed the horrific scale of animal abuse at Pilgrim's Pride. Birds are kicked, thrown against metal walls, and picked up by their legs, necks, or wings, causing pain and injury to the chickens, especially those suffering from leg deformities. Workers have also been seen mishandling chickens for no work-related purpose, such as carrying them outside the barn and placing them in forklift driver seats. In one disturbing clip, a worker holds two chickens by their necks and slams them against the barn wall, moving their heads as if they are pecking each other.

The company's use of "Frankenchickens"—chickens selectively bred to grow unnaturally large at an extremely fast rate—further exacerbates the problem. These chickens are extremely fragile, and the stress of being thrown and kicked can have severe consequences. Many of these chickens suffer from organ failure and heart attacks, and some even die before reaching the slaughterhouse.

The incentive structure at Pilgrim's Pride, coupled with the lack of oversight and accountability, has undoubtedly contributed to the rampant mistreatment of chickens by workers. The company has faced widespread criticism and public outrage, with some calling for stronger government intervention to prevent such cruelty and protect animal welfare.

While Pilgrim's Pride has denied any wrongdoing, they have taken some steps towards improvement, including providing ongoing animal welfare training for their workforce. However, the systemic issues within the industry and the company's practices continue to raise concerns about the ethical treatment of chickens.

Pilgrim's chickens selectively bred to grow large, leading to health issues

Chickens have been selectively bred to grow larger at a faster rate. In 1925, it took 16 weeks for a chicken to grow to 2.5 pounds. Today, chickens are bred to grow to more than twice that size in just six weeks. If humans grew at the same rate, we would weigh 660 pounds by the time we turned two months old.

This selective breeding has led to health issues for Pilgrim chickens. Studies suggest that almost a third of factory-farmed chickens suffer from leg deformities so severe that they have trouble walking. This is due to the chickens being manipulated to grow larger and faster, which has resulted in leg deformities that cannot support their accelerated weight gain.

In addition to leg deformities, Pilgrim chickens may also suffer from other health issues caused by their living conditions. Undercover investigations have revealed that chickens in factory farms endure painful leg deformities, live in crowded conditions, and suffer from a lack of proper ventilation and ammonia buildup. These issues can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues for the chickens.

To address these health concerns, Pilgrim's technicians work closely with farm families to maintain the health of their flocks. They conduct regular inspections of both the farm and the chickens, monitoring health factors such as eye and leg health, mortality rates, and ventilation. Pilgrim's partners with approximately 5,750 family farm partners who raise breeder hens, broiler chickens, or hogs, and they require these partners to provide proper care for their animals.

Pilgrim's also has a team of qualified animal nutritionists who formulate specific diets for their chickens to optimize health and prevent nutritional deficiencies and digestive disorders. They also have licensed veterinarians who establish and monitor health and vaccine protocols, perform routine health checks, and are available for consultation on any health issues. These measures aim to improve the health and welfare of Pilgrim chickens.

Pilgrim's contracts with family farms for chicken production

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, the second-largest chicken producer in the world, has a network of approximately 5,750 family farm partners who raise breeder hens, broiler chickens, or hogs. These family farms play a crucial role in chicken production for Pilgrim's, supplying the company with the birds needed for meat production.

The company enters into Broiler Production Agreements with independent growers, also known as contractors or farmers, who have the proper farm, facilities, and equipment to raise broiler chickens for eventual processing. These agreements outline the terms and conditions under which the independent growers will raise the chickens, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and quality standards.

Pilgrim's provides specific guidelines for housing and caring for the chickens on these family farms. Before placing chicks at a farmer's broiler farm, Pilgrim's checks that the farm meets their standards for ventilation, temperature, ammonia levels, lighting, and bedding. They also specify that fresh, absorbent shavings free of sharp objects and resistant to fungal growth be used as bedding material in hen houses. Pilgrim's service technicians visit their breeders weekly to monitor chicken health and ensure the chicks' comfort.

In addition to these standards, Pilgrim's has implemented a Cost Improvement Program to assist independent growers in becoming more cost-efficient. This program aims to improve the performance of high-cost independent growers by providing ideas and strategies to reduce costs. The program is tailored to each independent grower's situation, with participation determined by their pay per pound.

While Pilgrim's contracts with family farms outline certain standards and requirements, there have been concerns and investigations into alleged animal cruelty and improper handling of chickens on these farms. Undercover investigations have revealed instances of chicken abuse, with birds suffering from leg deformities and being subjected to rough treatment by workers.

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