Commercial broiler chickens are among the most numerically significant welfare concerns in animal agriculture, with tens of billions raised annually in conditions causing endemic health problems.
Broiler chicken welfare represents perhaps the single largest numerical animal welfare issue in the world. The sheer number of individuals — tens of billions annually — combined with the systematic nature of their welfare problems makes this a priority by virtually any utilitarian calculus. Slow-growth breeds, higher stocking densities, and enrichment provisions are the levers of change. Consumer and corporate pressure have driven commitments from major food companies.