Intensive Poultry Farming: Systemic Welfare Issues

Intensive poultry farming raises systemic welfare concerns spanning breeding, housing, feeding, handling, and slaughter that require multi-level reform to address effectively.

Key Facts

The UK produces 1.1 billion broilers and 40 million laying hens annually
Most chickens are raised in intensive systems with stocking densities up to 42kg per square metre
The genetic selection for rapid growth has created broilers with inherent welfare compromise
Welfare problems including lameness, cardiovascular disease, and skin lesions are endemic
The Better Chicken Commitment requires six key welfare improvements including lower stocking density

Welfare Considerations

Intensive poultry welfare cannot be improved through single interventions because the problems are systemic: fast-growing breeds that cannot sustain their own weight, barren environments that frustrate all natural behaviour, stocking densities that prevent adequate movement, and catching and slaughter processes that cause fear and injury. Meaningful improvement requires addressing breed genetics, housing, enrichment, stocking density, catching methods, and slaughter simultaneously. The Better Chicken Commitment addresses all six key areas and represents the current consensus welfare benchmark.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken from farms committed to meeting Better Chicken Commitment standards
Contact retailers asking about their BCC sign-up status and timelines
Support Compassion in World Farming and Open Wing Alliance BCC campaigns
Reduce chicken consumption pending wider BCC adoption
Advocate for Better Chicken Commitment provisions to become mandatory standards