When we think of the poultry industry, most of us imagine vast fields filled with happy chickens pecking away at the ground. But the reality for many of the birds we rely on for eggs and meat is quite different. With the latest outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which has claimed the lives of around 60 million birds in the past year, we have to ask ourselves: why are our chickens so sick, and is the industry approach really the best way forward?
The official narrative blames the outbreak on wild birds, dirty shoes, and backyard flocks. But is that the full story? Joel Salatin, a farmer and advocate for pastured poultry farming, suggests we should be asking deeper questions about the way we raise and manage our flocks.
Are the Birds Really Dying From Disease?
One of the most controversial points raised by Salatin is that many of the birds aren’t actually dying from avian flu. Of the nearly 60 million birds that have been culled, only a small percentage—perhaps a couple of million—have died directly from the disease. The rest have been exterminated as part of a strict “sterilisation” policy. If even one bird in a flock tests positive for HPAI, the entire flock is destroyed.
This practice has sparked outrage and confusion. Salatin argues that this mass culling ignores a fundamental principle of animal husbandry: breeding for immunity. In every flock, there are always survivors—birds that show natural resistance to the disease. Yet instead of studying these birds and breeding from them, the policy is to kill everything and start over. As Salatin puts it, this “scorched earth” approach is not only ineffective but counterproductive. We could be breeding stronger, healthier birds, but instead, we’re wiping them out.
Too Many Birds, Too Close Together
Another key issue is the overcrowded, industrial-scale farming model that dominates the poultry industry. The majority of chickens in the UK and the US are raised in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), where millions of birds are housed together in tight quarters. This kind of environment is a breeding ground for disease.
Salatin recounts how federal veterinarians visited his pastured poultry farm years ago during a previous HPAI outbreak. They privately admitted that the root of the problem was simple: too many birds packed too densely together. But, they also confessed that if they voiced that opinion publicly, they’d lose their jobs. This is censorship in action—stifling the voices that challenge the status quo.
Nature’s Way of Saying ‘Enough’
It’s easy to blame wild birds or dirty boots for spreading the flu, but Salatin argues that nature is fighting back against an unsustainable system. In nature, chickens don’t congregate in such huge numbers. In fact, wild birds rarely gather in flocks larger than a few hundred. When we force millions of chickens into close quarters, it’s as if we’re daring nature to strike back.
Nature bats last, and the current policy is clearly not working. The cycle of HPAI outbreaks is becoming more frequent, not less. The solution isn’t more culling or vaccines—it’s about rethinking how we raise chickens.
A More Natural Solution
So, what’s the alternative? Salatin suggests a return to smaller, more sustainable flock sizes, and letting birds live in conditions that allow them to thrive. On his farm, chickens are rotated onto fresh pasture daily. They get sunlight, fresh air, and access to bugs and greenery, which boost their immune systems naturally. Research from the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) has shown that well-managed pastured flocks are less vulnerable to disease than those crammed into industrial sheds.
The poultry industry needs to start focusing on natural immunity and healthier living conditions for birds. Instead of relying on vaccines and extermination, we could embrace a more holistic approach—one that respects the animals and works in harmony with nature.
In a world increasingly driven by fear, we need to think critically about the narratives we accept. Are we really going to beat migratory ducks with vaccines and mass culls? Or is it time to embrace a more natural, sustainable approach to poultry farming?
