Modern broiler chickens grow so rapidly that their health is fundamentally compromised by genetics designed for production speed.
Broiler chicken welfare has been catastrophically compromised by decades of selection for rapid growth. Modern broilers reach slaughter weight while their skeletal systems, cardiovascular systems, and immune systems are still developing. Leg weakness is so pervasive that many birds cannot walk normally. Lameness causes chronic pain detectable through analgesic-preference tests. Cardiac failure caused by the rapid growth outpacing circulatory capacity kills birds by the millions. The genetic problem is solvable — slower-growing breeds demonstrate that welfare-compatible broiler production is possible, but requires industry commitment and consumer demand.