1.   But Tom Swaffar learned that raising chickens for a big poultry processor provided precious little of the independence he yearned for.

2.   Expect Cochran, Bumpers and the big poultry growers who back them to prevail, though.

3.   He spoke to the family farmers, who raise the chickens under contract for the big poultry companies, and heard complaints of underweight feed shipments and sick hatchlings.

4.   Maryland wants to impose new regulations that would make big poultry processors like Allen Foods and Tyson Foods oversee how their contract growers handle chicken waste.