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Comment by pvaldes | Hacker News Reader

This is not a problem caused by antibiotics. Is a problem of genetic nature that happens because broilers are inbreed for growing big and fast. The same birds in true range with plenty of food would face exactly the same problem, with or without antibiotics. They are too heavy and often tend to have cardiac diseases, but they live short lives and are delicious so they are the most sucessful bird in the planet.

On the other hand, we are a paradoxal species. Able to feel horrified by this, whereas happily petting our distorted-faced bulldogs, persian cats, caesarean born bullterriers, extra-dwarfed toy Yorkshires, ponies and toy mini pigs, without any trace of moral conflict...

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"the most successful bird on the planet" is an interesting line considering that they are all killed and eaten.

I guess the obvious line of reasoning is to talk about how GDP is less than perfect for measuring economic success, etc. Sometimes large numbers are not a sign of success.

Not all are killed. Millions of captive chickens live much longer and peaceful lives than its wild counterparts (They do not need to care for the danger of being burned alive in an indonesian fireforest for example). Many laying and pet hens die for natural causes after ten years or so roaming around some garden or farm. This is a lot of sun-bathing, clucking and scratching time to enjoy for a middle sized bird with plenty of predators that normally would not reach its first birdday. Even broilers live longer than most wild chicks.

Agreed. Folks forget that the wild population, if stable, implies that almost all hatched chicks are horribly killed and eaten by predators in their first year.

Of course the moral issue of "should I cynically raise billions of birds because they're tasty" is real.

Aren't most animals killed and eaten? Some die from disease and then are eaten by bacteria, but I was under the impression that death from old age was a rare event in the wild animal world

Almost all birds are killed and eaten. Birds in the wild don't die peacefully in their sleep. The real difference is what happens before they die.

""the most successful bird on the planet" is an interesting line considering that they are all killed and eaten."

Moral questions aside, from the perspective of evolution theory breeding and passing of genes is pretty much equal to "success". So yes, in that regard, chickens are indeed successful.

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