As one of the UK ’ s most popular fast food chains , it sells almost 400 pieces of chicken every minute . But now conditions on the farms that supply KFC with 23million chickens a year can be shown for the first time . The images show tens of thousands of chickens kept together in huge sheds , alive for just 35 days before they are gassed . Scroll down for video . Life on the farm : Supplier Andrew in the shed filled with 34,00 chickens destined for the fast food chain KFC . The thousands of chickens live together in huge sheds for just 35 days before they are gassed . A documentary tonight shows the birds living amid their excrement in conditions activists say are ‘ oppressive ’ – but the farmer in charge claims it ’ s ‘ a very good life ’ . Footage to be screened this evening on BBC1 focuses on one farm where about 34,000 chickens are penned into a shed with few windows . When they are large enough the chickens are gassed , chopped into nine pieces and sent to warehouses in large trays where they are then distributed to branches nationwide . The farmer in charge claimed the birds had ' a very good life ' and showed how they were healthy . Farms supply KFC with around 23 million chickens each year and its chains sell almost 400 pieces of chicken every minute . At one farm around 34,000 chickens are penned into sheds with few windows . About 1,000 farms in the country supply KFC with 23million chickens a year . The programme focuses on a farmer called Andrew who says the chickens at his farm – left to do nothing but eat and drink until they reach the required weight – have a good life , saying he ‘ wouldn ’ t mind being a chicken in here ’ . Scenes show the chickens as they walk around in their own excrement while a layer of sawdust has turned murky brown from mopping up waste . Asked if he thinks this is a problem , Andrew says : ‘ No , no , no , that ’ s not a problem at all , because you see here , this is all sawdust , so the idea is to keep this as dry as possible. ’ The supplier , who has 35 years ’ experience , says : ‘ As you can see , they ’ ve got beautifully clean feet and that is a good sign that these birds are healthy and they ’ ve been grown on good litter . You can see this is a good , healthy chicken . I can ’ t think there ’ s anything better than being sat in a chicken farm looking at chickens . You can see for yourself , they look absolutely fantastic. ’ Asked whether he feels it is a shame their lives end so soon , he says : ‘ No , they probably have a short life but they have a very good life. ’ Yesterday animal rights campaigners claimed the lives of the KFC chickens were ‘ oppressive ’ . Andrew Tyler , director of Animal Aid , said : ‘ These birds have no meaningful life . They endure a wretched existence in giant windowless sheds stinking with ammonia . A very large number die from starvation or dehydration . About 900million of these birds are produced in country each year about 30million-plus die in the sheds . When the chickens are large enough they are gassed , chopped into nine pieces and sent to the warehouses in large trays . The trays of chicken are then distributed to KFC branches nationwide and sold to customers . This is the first time cameras have been allowed access to KFC . The fast food chain say animal welfare is 'essential ' Fast food : One of KFC 's branches . KFC say that all their suppliers meet or exceed UK and EU welfare requirements . ‘ Millions of these birds , just like the ones KFC is commissioning to be produced die in sheds wretchedly and painfully every year . ‘ These birds are deprived of everything that makes life worth living . The next step after this is to be grabbed by their frail legs , and shoved in crates and taken off to slaughter . A great number suffer broken bones during this process. ’ A BBC spokesman said the documentary offers ‘ an impartial look at KFC , one of the UK ’ s most recognisable businesses ’ . It is the first time cameras have been allowed access to KFC . A KFC spokesman said : ‘ Animal welfare is essential for high quality food and is important to our customers , and all of KFC ’ s suppliers meet or exceed UK and EU welfare requirements . KFC was the first quick-service restaurant to gain Red Tractor certification and we have in place our own robust standard , which is independently audited by third parties. ’ Episode one of The Billion Dollar Chicken Shop airs on BBC1 at 9pm .
1,000 farms supply fast food chain KFC with 23 million chickens a year . Birds live in huge sheds for just 35 days before they are gassed to death . Documentary filmed around 34,000 chickens in a shed with few windows . Activists say the conditions the chickens are kept in are 'oppressive ' One farmer claims the birds have a short but 'very good life ' KFC said all their suppliers meet or exceed UK and EU welfare requirements .