Did you Know: Learn Chicken Facts for Chicken Month!

September is National Chicken Month in Canada, and as part of my partnership with Alberta Chicken, I’m excited to do a bit of chicken mythbusting, giveaways, and share some chicken fun facts that you might not have known about Canada’s favourite protein!

I’ll be hosting a Chicken-themed Fun Facts Week on my social media Sept. 14-18, 2020, which I invite you to participate in—to learn more about Canadian chicken, but also for a chance to win free, chicken-themed stuff (win-win!) all week long! Keep scrollin’ for giveaway details!

Canadian Chicken Farmers - Alberta Chicken Facts - Chicken Month
Read and share my blog: Chicken Facts for Chicken Month!

Here’s some fun facts you might not have known about eating chicken:

  • How long can you store chicken?
    • Whole chicken: 2-3 days in the fridge, 12 months in the freezer
    • Chicken pieces: 2-3 days in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer
    • Cooked chicken: 3 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer
    • Ground chicken: 1-2 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer
      (Source)
  • How long does chicken need to be cooked for?
  • How do you know if the chicken you’re buying or eating is Canadian chicken?
    • It’s actually pretty simple! In Canada, if you buy chicken fresh never frozen, that means the chicken came from a Canadian farm! “Buying fresh never frozen” is one easy way to identify Canadian chicken! There are frozen products that are Canadian too but buying fresh, never frozen is just one easy way to identify Canadian chicken! This also means that most restaurants in town that serve chicken are likely serving Canadian chicken. (Source)
  • Different cuts of chicken offer different nutritional value!
  • And did you know:
    • According to Statistics Canada, in 2019, chicken was the most consumed meat in Canada! (Source)
Alberta Chicken Facts Temperature and Time
Answer: it depends on the cut and how you're cooking it!
Alberta Chicken Fun Facs How long can you store chicken
Use this guide for proper chicken storage!

Here’s some fun facts you might not have known about Canadian chicken farming:

  • As of September 2020, the Canadian chicken sector has a lower carbon footprint than that of other livestock in North America, and has lowered that carbon footprint by almost 40% in the last 40 years. Water consumption at chicken farms have been reduced by 45% in the same timeframe and 62% of the sector’s total energy use comes from renewable sources. (Source)
  • Canada’s chicken sector sustains over 100,000 jobs, contributes $8 billion to Canada’s GDP, pays $1.9 billion in taxes, and purchases 3 million tons of feed, making it a stabilizing force in rural Canada. (Source)
  • All of Alberta’s chicken farms are family farms. (Source)
  • Since 2009, all Canadian farmers adhere to mandatory third-party audited Animal Care Programs. In 2016, the Canadian Code of Practice for chickens was updated, and in 2019, an enhanced Animal Care Program was developed and adopted. One hundred percent of Alberta chicken farmers have been certified in this program, and compliance is assured through audits and enforcement. (Source)
Prairie Livestock - Alberta Chicken - Canadian Chicken Farmers - Edmonton
Tara and Darren of Prairie Livestock are Edmonton area chicken farmers!

Learning about chicken from Alberta chicken farmers

Did you know: there are about 250 chicken farms in Alberta! And all of them are family-run farms, including Prairie Livestock in the Edmonton area, owned by Tara and Darren deVries. Tara’s been a chicken farmer for 20 years, and has been farming in the Edmonton area since 2016. On her farm, chickens are free-run (so they roam free but inside a barn—versus free range, which is when they roam free but outside). 

I got to visit Tara’s farm and see the care that goes into farming her chickens. In her two decades focused on chicken farming in particular, Tara’s seen a lot of change—for the better! Advances in technology for instance has helped make farming a lot more efficient, sustainable, and safer for all involved. I also learned that all chicken barns in Canada are climate controlled to provide the exact comfortable temperature chickens like, are also really big—to give the chickens lots of space to roam, and include unlimited feed (snacks!) for the chickens to comfortably eat all day. Tara’s really proud of the work she does to grow and provide this vital, local protein for Albertans. 

It was pretty cool to see firsthand where the chicken I buy came from—from Tara’s farm. 

And because it’s a family farm, you know you’re supporting a local business, that supports the local community and economy.

Alberta Chicken Farms - Canadidan Chicken Farmers - Facts
Did you know...
Prairie Livestock - Alberta Chicken - Canadian Chicken Farmers - Edmonton
Chicken farms follow important food / safety programs!
And now I’m excited for… Lindork x Alberta Chicken presents:

Chicken Facts for Chicken Month GIVEAWAYS!!!

I’m doing a few giveaways this week (Sept 14-18, 2020) as part of Chicken Month with Alberta Chicken, one on my blog, one on Instagram, one on Facebook, and one on Twitter! Enter all of them, or some—they all have different prizes and opportunities to win!

Canadian Chicken Farmers - Alberta Chicken Facts - Chicken Month Giveaways
Join my week of Chicken Facts and Giveaways for Chicken Month!
Alberta Chicken Giveaway #1:

From Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 to Friday, Sept. 18, 2020: Enter this blog giveaway for a chance to win an Alberta Chicken Picnic Basket Prize Pack valued at $200!

You’ll win: A 24-piece rustic picnic basket filled with oven mitts, a BBQ brush, BBQ sauce, digital thermometer, chicken cooking timer, and more! (See the picture). 

Prairie Livestock - Alberta Chicken - Canadian Chicken Farmers - Edmonton 3
Enter to win this rustic 24-pc picnic basket filled with Alberta Chicken goodies, valued at $200!
To qualify to win the Alberta Chicken picnic basket, you must enter via this blog post.
You can get additional entries through social media, but you will not be qualified to win unless you’ve entered on this blog!
  • Mandatory Blog Entry: Leave a comment on this blog post telling me the most interesting fun fact you learned about chicken! Let me know in your comment if you also entered on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
    Please note: Comments are moderated so your comment may not appear right away!

     

  • Optional Facebook Entry: Leave a comment on this Facebook post tagging a friend and letting them know a fun chicken fact! You must also be a Page Fan (“like”) my Facebook Page Lindork – Linda Hoang  and Alberta Chicken’s Facebook Page
  • Optional Instagram Entry: Leave a comment on my Alberta Chicken Instagram post tagging a friend and letting them know a fun chicken fact! You must also be following me @lindork and @chicken_recipes_
  • Optional Twitter Entry: Tweet the following: It’s Chicken Month and @lindork’s sharing chicken facts all week with @Alberta_Chicken! Check out her blog to learn chicken food + farming facts, and enter her week of chicken-themed giveaways! https://linda-hoang.com/did-you-know-learn-chicken-facts-for-chicken-month #yeg #yegfood #yyc #yycfood #tasteAB
Alberta Chicken Giveaway #2:

On Tuesday Sept. 15, 2020: Check out my Instagram Story as I’ll be running a Q&A all day with Alberta Chicken! Submit a question through my Story about chicken, or something you learned about chicken from my blog, and you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card to an Alberta restaurant of your choice (that serves Canadian chicken!)

Alberta Chicken Giveaway #3:

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020: From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. MST, tune into my Alberta Chicken Facebook Live Q&A with Alberta Chicken Farmer Tara, of Prairie Livestock, and Alberta registered dietitian Emily Mardell of Get Joyfull. Leave a comment on the Facebook Live post with a question for Tara or Emily and you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card to an Alberta restaurant of your choice (that serves chicken dishes!)

Alberta Chicken Giveaway #4:

On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020: Check out my Twitter Poll thread I’ll be running featuring different chicken questions. Test your chicken knowledge by answering the poll questions! Reply to the Twitter thread to let me know you’ve participated in the poll and you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to an Alberta restaurant of your choice (that serves chicken dishes!)

Chicken Facts - Alberta Chicken - Lean Source of Protein
Did you know: Chicken is Canada's favourite protein!
Chicken Facts - Chicken Month - Alberta Chicken - Food Safety
A few tips for chicken food safety!

Thanks to Alberta Chicken Producers for sponsoring these great giveaways!!

I’ll randomly select a winner from all entries received across all platforms and giveaways following each social media activity (no later than Sept. 21, 2020). There will be FOUR WINNERS selected.

As a reminder, the four prizes are: one 24-pc picnic basket with Alberta Chicken goodies (valued at $200), two $100 gift cards to an Alberta restaurant of your choice that serves Canadian chicken, and one $50 gift card to an Alberta restaurant of your choice that services Canadian chicken. 

I hope you learned some new facts about Canadian chicken that you maybe didn’t know before by reading this blog or participating in one of the social media activities this week! Feel free to share the knowledge with friends and family! Next time you have chicken, for instance, be like, “hey guys, did you know…” lol.

I hope you’ll participate in my Social Media Week of Chicken Facts for Chicken Month!

Thanks again to Alberta Chicken for sponsoring this post and the week’s giveaways, and be sure to stay tuned for more chicken content!!

Canadian Chicken Farmers - Alberta Chicken Facts - Chicken Month
Read and share my blog: Chicken Facts for Chicken Month!
UPDATE: here’s the Chicken Q&A Facebook Live I hosted with Alberta Chicken Farmer Tara of Prairie Livestock, and Alberta registered dietitian Emily Mardell of Get Joyfull

Linda

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Disclaimer: This blog post is part of a sponsored partnership with Alberta Chicken Producers. I’ll be sharing more Alberta/Canadian chicken-themed content over several months. This has no impact on opinions stated in this post. I love food, supporting and understanding local food and where our food comes from.

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53 Comments

  • Yuchang Li says:

    Hello, I would love to show my daughter about all Canadian chicken facts and your tips really helped!

  • Linda H says:

    Wow! 250 local farms! Great to know most of our chicken is locally sourced and available.

  • Stephanie W says:

    Different cuts of meat for different nutritional values? I always thought just taste preference!

  • Brent Jans says:

    Thanks for this! I was unaware of the exact storage times for chicken, so that was excellent to learn!

  • WOW! I didn’t know that all of Alberta certified chicken farmers are FAMILIES! that is awesome!

  • Miranda says:

    I did not know chicken breasts were high in potassium! The more you know

  • Krista L says:

    It’s interesting to know that we as a country have lowered our carbon footprint that much. It’s awesome to hear that kind of positive news towards an industry that is always being attacked. Thanks for sharing!

  • Alex says:

    Wow! Really interesting nutritional facts about the different cuts of chicken. Need to start eating more dark meat for that iron.

  • Matthew Jones says:

    Cooked chicken for 3 months I’m the freezer? That I did not know!

  • Jessica Au Duong says:

    Wow! I didn’t know you could store cooked chicken for 3 years in the freezer! I’ve also entered on all other social platforms.

  • Nancy Mah says:

    There are about 250 family owned chicken farms in Alberta…now that’s fresh!

  • Gordon says:

    Interesting to know that chicken is Canada’s favourite protein

  • Amanda says:

    I did not know chicken farms had a lower carbon footprint. That’s awesome!

  • Jiahui says:

    Chicken can be stored for 12 months in the freezer!!!!

  • Nerissa Figueroa-Decano says:

    I didn’t know you can store cooked chicken for 3 years in the freezer! Interesting!

  • Carol says:

    I didn’t know there’s over 250 chicken farmers in Alberta alone. That is a lot. I also didn’t know diff cute of chicken have diff nutrition levels.

    I have not entered any of yours other chicken giveaways on your other platforms yet!

    Cheers,

  • Brenden Kunimoto says:

    I didn’t know that a whole chicken should only be stored up to 3 days in the fridge. I entered on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • Judy McLellan says:

    Best fact was that chicken is the most consumed meat! Though based on the fact that my toddler calls all meat chicken, and wants chicken all the time I should have known!

  • Alison Carter says:

    Never knew how to tell if i was buying Canadian chicken!

  • Alexandra Chang says:

    Thanks for the chicken facts! I had no idea there were so many chicken farms in Alberta alone!! Almost 250!

  • Alexandra Chang says:

    Oh oops!!! I also commented on Facebook and Instagram :)

  • Connie Chow says:

    It was cool to learn that chicken breasts are high in potassium and skinless legs are higher in zinc. Guess we’ll be eating more legs come flu season

  • Trudy Nastiuk says:

    I really appreciated the chicken storage facts! This is something my husband and I “debate” about on a bi-weekly basis!

  • Cheryl Leverette says:

    I love the fact that the chicken farms in Alberta are all family run and owned!! Terrific!!

  • Adriana K says:

    I’m surprised and happy to see that chicken was the most consumed meat in 2019!

  • MyAn Pacholkow says:

    Good to know that Buying Fresh never frozen is Canadian chicken!

  • Paula Dumont says:

    The most interesting fact I learned is three-fold: That there are about 250 chicken farms in Alberta – and all of them are family-run farms! And more importantly: Since 2009, all Canadian farmers adhere to mandatory third-party audited Animal Care Programs. In 2016, the Canadian Code of Practice for chickens was updated, and in 2019, an enhanced Animal Care Program was developed and adopted. One hundred percent of Alberta chicken farmers have been certified in this program, and compliance is assured through audits and enforcement. (also entered on Instagram and Facebook)

  • Lindsey Zunti says:

    I had no idea all Canadian chicken farms are family run! What a cool fact!

  • Diane says:

    Very interesting to learn the difference between free run and free range – I thought they were the same thing!

  • Jessica says:

    I did not know it is Canadian chicken by buying fresh never frozen chicken!

  • Kerry Nadeau says:

    Favorite fun fact: Chickens are essentially living dinosaurs.

  • Karmen says:

    The facts on time to store chicken products are super helpful -I saves the graphic too!

  • Sheila says:

    Great to learn that if it says fresh and never frozen, it came from a Canadian Farm.

  • Alisa Petrisch says:

    I love knowing that buying fresh chicken is from Canada, that is great news!

    I’ve entered on IG, Twitter and FB.
    Thank you!

  • Michelle K says:

    The “buying fresh never frozen” is new to me! That’s really good to know. So proud of our Canadian farms!

    I have entered on instagram and Facebook as well! Thanks!

  • Anh says:

    The fact that stood out most for me was that in chicken barns, they have unlimited snacks!

  • Terry Hoy says:

    Interesting that you can only store chicken parts in the freezer for 6 months… looks like I have some cleaning to do!

  • Zafrina says:

    There are so many things I didn’t know about chicken!! Thanks for this great info!

  • Ali says:

    My favourite fact: All of Alberta’s chicken farms are family farms.

  • Kaitlyn says:

    The fact that there’s an animal care program makes me feel better about Alberta chickens!

  • Amanda C says:

    Thank you for all the interesting facts. Most valuable information for me is how long each type of chicken meat can be stored in the refrigerator and freezer!

  • Nancy Yuen says:

    I did not know you can only store pieces of frozen chicken in the freezer for only 6 months!

  • Gail C Jones says:

    The fact I found most interesting was that different parts of the chicken have different nutritional value.

  • Jen S says:

    Great to know that all the farms are family owned!

  • Beverly L says:

    Learned that dark meat has more iron!

  • Curtis says:

    Did not realize that different cuts of chicken offer different nutritional value. I always thought the only difference was the tenderness of the chicken.

  • Christine T. says:

    The most interesting fun fact is that all of Alberta’s chicken farms are family farms. I will also be entering the contest on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • Lucy haines says:

    Three years in freezer, yay!

  • Kerri says:

    Fresh chicken is always Canadian – great to know!

  • Geraldine Ching says:

    Didn’t know that Canadian farmers adhere to mandatory third-party audited Animal Care Programs. Entering also via fb, twitter and insta. Happy Chicken Month!

  • Geraldine Ching says:

    Canadian farmers adhere to mandatory third-party audited Animal Care Programs.

  • Robyn says:

    That we have so many family farms, I love that!

  • Maritess S says:

    I am very impressed to learn that ALL of Alberta’s chicken farms are family farms. Proud to support LOCALS.

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