The science, the campaigns, and the progress in improving welfare for the world's most numerous farmed animal
Broiler chickens — birds raised for meat — represent the single largest population of farmed land animals on Earth, with approximately 70 billion killed per year globally. They are also among the most welfare-compromised animals in the food system. Decades of selective breeding for rapid growth has created birds whose bodies struggle to support their own weight, leading to chronic pain, cardiovascular problems, and respiratory distress. Addressing broiler welfare is therefore one of the highest-impact areas in all of farmed animal welfare advocacy.
Modern broiler breeds (Ross 308, Cobb 500) grow so fast their cardiovascular and skeletal systems cannot keep pace. This causes: sudden death syndrome (cardiac failure), ascites (fluid accumulation from heart/lung failure), tibial dyschondroplasia, and chronic leg pain from skeletal abnormalities. Welfare scientists regard fast-growth genetics as the foundational welfare problem in broiler production.
Conventional broiler sheds pack birds at 38-46 kg/m² — so dense birds can barely move in their final weeks. High density exacerbates ammonia levels from litter, increases disease transmission, prevents natural behaviors (foraging, dustbathing, running), and correlates with worse leg and skin health.
Multiple studies document 15-30%+ of conventional broilers experiencing painful lameness. Gait scoring studies show majority of birds in conventional systems have abnormal gait. Pain research shows broilers self-administer analgesics when given access, demonstrating their suffering has a motivational component consistent with pain experience.
Conventional broiler sheds offer no enrichment — no perches, no foraging substrate, no natural light. Chickens are highly motivated to forage and dustbathe; deprivation of these behaviors causes frustration and welfare costs beyond physical health.
Manual catching involves grabbing birds by legs, causing wing and leg injuries. Transport to slaughter without food/water for up to 12 hours. Live catching machines cause injuries. Mortality during transport is a documented welfare metric.
The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC/European Chicken Commitment) is the leading corporate welfare standard campaign for broilers. Key requirements: