Poultry

Broiler Chicken Welfare: Growth Rates and Systemic Suffering

Broiler chickens are the most numerous farmed animal on Earth and suffer from extreme selective breeding for rapid growth.

Key Facts

Over 70 billion broiler chickens are slaughtered annually worldwide
Modern broilers reach slaughter weight in 35-42 days, compared to 84 days in 1950
Selective breeding for rapid growth causes chronic leg pain, heart failure, and ascites
40-50% of broiler chickens suffer from painful gait abnormalities by slaughter age
Broilers kept alive past slaughter age often die from organ failure within weeks

Welfare Considerations

The broiler industry has bred a chicken so optimized for rapid growth that its own body becomes its greatest suffering. Legs cannot support oversized bodies; hearts and lungs cannot supply rapidly growing muscle tissue. Birds collapse, lie in their own waste causing ammonia burns, and die from organ failure. This suffering is baked into the genetics of virtually every commercial broiler produced globally.

What You Can Do

Reduce chicken consumption and shift to plant-based protein alternatives
Choose certified Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) chicken when consuming poultry
Support the Better Chicken Commitment corporate campaign
Advocate for breed welfare standards that prohibit extreme growth-rate genetics
Donate to Animal Charity Evaluators top-rated farm animal welfare organizations