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Most (60%) Canadian-produced chicken is sold through grocery stores. The remaining 40% is through restaurants (fast food 24%, full service 10%), hospitals and other institutions (6%).

The Canadian chicken industry is responsible for a total of 49,700 jobs on farms, in processing plants, in the transportation industry, etc. The production sector represents about 30,000 jobs.

Our industry makes a valuable contribution to Canada's economy every year. According to a study undertaken by The George Morris Center using 2003 data, the Canadian chicken industry (both production and processing): is responsible for a total of 49,700 jobs (the production sector contributes 30,500 jobs); generates $1.78 billion in wages and personal income (the production sector represents $660 million in terms of wages and income); and contributes close to $9.5 billion to the Canadian economy as total economic activity generated (the production sector chips in more than $3.4 billion).

Canada's chicken farmers produced 1,018 million kilograms of chicken in 2008. That's approximately 627 million birds.

The average Canadian ate 31 kg per person in 2005. This is the 9th highest per capita consumption in the world. The United Arab Emirates is first with 69 kg per person.

The average chicken consumes about 1.8 kilograms of feed to gain one kilogram of weight.

It takes 21 days for a chick to hatch from an egg. Chicks are delivered to the farm from the hatchery, usually the same day they are hatched.

Most chickens are ready for market when they weigh around 2 kg. It takes 38-40 days for chickens to reach this weight. You may see chickens in other sizes too. A Cornish hen weighs between 1 and 1.1 kg at live weight and is ready for market in 28 days. And a roaster, which is grown in 50 days, weighs about 3 kg.

Chickens are not given any hormones or steroids. They are not available in Canada and their use has been illegal for over 30 years.

All chickens are grain-fed. Their feed consists of grain and protein. About 70% of the feed is corn, wheat or barley with the remainder consisting mostly of soybean meal or canola.