Farmed Chicken Slow-Growth Breed Welfare

Slower-growing chicken breeds significantly reduce the welfare problems associated with extreme fast growth including leg disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Key Facts

Standard commercial broilers reach market weight in 42 days
Slower-growing breeds take 56 to 70 days and have significantly better health
Leg problems and heart disease affect up to 30 percent of fast-growing commercial broilers
Major food companies have committed to slower-growing breed transitions

Welfare Considerations

Fast-growing broiler chickens experience chronic pain from leg disorders, difficulty breathing from cardiovascular strain, and inability to reach feed and water as they near slaughter weight. The extreme metabolic demands of ultra-fast growth compromise immune function and overall health. Slower-growing breeds that retain better health show dramatically lower rates of painful conditions, representing one of the most impactful single welfare improvements available in the chicken industry.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken certified to slower-growing breed welfare standards
Support campaign pressure on food companies to adopt slower-growing commitments
Advocate for breed welfare standards in food retail procurement policies
Reduce chicken consumption or shift to plant-based alternatives