Modern broiler chickens grow so fast they suffer from lameness, heart disease, and respiratory problems. This page examines the science and reform options.
The welfare problems of modern broiler chickens are among the most extensively documented in farm animal science. Selective breeding for rapid growth rate has produced birds whose bodies outpace their skeletal and cardiovascular development. The result is chronic lameness, joint pain, and heart and lung failure at rates that would be considered a crisis in any other species. Fast-growing birds also spend more time sitting in litter, causing contact dermatitis on hocks and breasts. Welfare reforms include switching to slower-growing breeds, reducing stocking density, providing environmental enrichment, and ensuring adequate light and litter quality. These reforms are achievable with modest cost increases.