Organic

What it means for the chicken
Bred to strict guidelines certified by the Soil Association, organically produced chickens are fed with organic, non-genetically modified feed supplemented by their own foraging. With access to the open air, farmers actively encourage these chickens to exercise outside. To ensure you are buying an organic chicken in the supermarket, check for the Soil Association insignia on the labelling.

What it means for you
Organic chickens have exceptional flavour, a result of good feed and a long, full life. Although organic chickens can be more expensive than their ‘standard’-bred companions, the quality of any leftover meat lends itself well to deliciously fragrant chicken stock, ideal for stews or risottos. And, as an added bonus, your chicken conscience can be clear, for these chooks have led as natural a life as possible.

Free-range

What it means for the chicken
Chickens that are labelled 'free-range' will have access to the open air and will be left to roam. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) specify that for a bird to be considered free-range, it must “have continuous daytime access to open-air runs, comprising an area mainly covered by vegetation, of not less than 1m²”. However, unlike their organically reared cousins there are no regulations on flock size - which critics say can inhibit the chickens’ access to the outside world.

What it means for you
Again, a chicken that is allowed to reach maturity and roam around will naturally taste better, as exercise enhances the texture of the meat. The flavour of chicken also increases with age - so the older the bird, the better the taste will be. Check that the packaging of the chicken says 'free-range'.

Corn-fed

What it means for the chicken
The term 'corn-fed' is subject to EU regulation and means chickens must be fed no less than 50% maize in their lifetime, as opposed to a diet consisting mainly of wheat. Corn-fed chickens are instantly recognisable by the yellow colour of their flesh, thanks to their maize-rich diet.

What it means for you
This maize-rich diet gives corn-fed chickens a sweeter, more rounded flavour than some ‘standard’-bred hens. However, the label ‘corn-fed’ is not an indicator of the way a chicken is produced beyond how it was fed. Confusingly, they can be organic, free-range or neither. Check for the organic Soil Association, free-range or 'Freedom Food' labels if you want to buy a chicken that has been less intensively reared.

'Standard'-bred

What it means for the chicken
It doesn't make for easy reading but, unfortunately, the majority of British chickens (some 95%) are bred in huge and often overcrowded windowless sheds. With many farmers only getting three pence per chicken, animal welfare may not be at the top of their list of priorities. Breeds are of the fast growing variety and are slaughtered at 35 days old. In comparison, organically bred chickens often reach the grand old age of 70 days.


What it means for you
Compared to an organic or free-range chicken, a ‘standard’-bred bird is right at the bottom of the taste pecking order. Intensively reared chickens contain high levels of water, which effectively dilutes their natural flavour. Paying a couple of pounds more may buy you a better quality of bird. Look out for the new 'Freedom Food' label from the RSPCA and their farm assurance scheme - awarded to those chickens who are allowed to mature longer, to have better light or to enjoy more space. These birds are not necessarily free-range, but they will have been raised more humanely and, consequently, are likely to taste much better.

Our top chicken dishes
Cooking with chicken