Modern broiler chickens have been selectively bred to grow at rates their bodies cannot sustain, causing widespread chronic pain and suffering.
The extreme selective breeding of modern broiler chickens for rapid growth has created a welfare crisis at unprecedented scale. Birds grow so fast that their hearts, lungs, and legs cannot keep up, causing chronic pain, respiratory distress, and mobility problems. Many birds spend their final days barely able to walk. This affects more animals than perhaps any other agricultural welfare issue. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds and higher-density standards could dramatically reduce suffering for billions of animals.