Backyard chicken keeping has grown rapidly in urban and suburban areas. While potentially offering better welfare than commercial farms, backyard chickens face their own welfare challenges.
Backyard chickens face welfare risks from predators, disease, inadequate space, and owner inexperience. Urban ordinances often restrict flock sizes to levels that prevent adequate social behavior. Roosters produced in hatcheries supplying backyard keepers are often euthanized at hatch. When the novelty of egg collection fades, chickens are frequently abandoned or surrendered. High-production hybrid breeds may suffer from reproductive disorders and reduced lifespan even in optimal conditions.