In the book "Eating Animals," Jonathan Safran Foer describes a stark and vivid image of modern farming practices. He asks readers to envision a large grid made up of 33,000 rectangles, each representing the space occupied by a bird that resembles a football with legs. These birds, known as broilers, are notable for their living conditions, which are devoid of cages or stacked levels, emphasizing a specific type of factory farming that prioritizes mass production.

The imagery evokes a scene where these rectangles are encased in a barren structure, with no natural light or windows, highlighting the mechanical nature of the facility. The environment is controlled with automated systems delivering feed laced with drugs, along with regulated water, heating, and ventilation, showcasing how modern agriculture often prioritizes efficiency and profit over the welfare of the animals. This portrayal challenges readers to reflect on the implications of such farming methods on both animal lives and human ethics.