Farmed Hen Slow-Growing Breed Adoption and Welfare

Slower-growing broiler breeds were developed to address the welfare problems caused by extreme growth selection. Their adoption represents one of the most impactful interventions in poultry welfare.

Key Facts

Standard broiler breeds reach market weight in 35-42 days through extreme selective breeding
Slower-growing breeds take 56-70 days but show dramatically lower rates of lameness, cardiac disease, and mortality
Leg problems affect up to 30% of standard broilers versus under 5% in most slower-growing breeds
The Better Chicken Commitment specifies slower-growing breeds as a required element for full compliance
Cost premium for slower-growing chicken is estimated at 10-20 cents per pound at retail
Several European countries including France have adopted Label Rouge slower-growing standards nationally

Welfare Considerations

Slower-growing breed adoption may be the single most impactful welfare intervention available in commercial chicken production. The welfare problems of standard commercial broilers — lameness, cardiac disease, respiratory compromise — are not management failures but predictable consequences of extreme growth selection. Slower-growing breeds with better physiological balance show dramatically lower rates of these conditions because their skeletal and cardiovascular systems can support their body weight. The welfare improvement is fundamental and structural, not merely a management adjustment.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment by asking food companies about their slower-growing breed timelines
Choose chicken certified under standards requiring slower-growing breeds (Certified Humane Level 2, GAP 3+)
Ask restaurants and fast food companies about their poultry welfare commitments and progress
Advocate for slower-growing breed requirements in poultry welfare regulations
Reduce conventional chicken consumption while supporting companies transitioning to higher welfare breeds