Farmed Broiler Chicken Welfare Assessment

Broiler chickens are the most numerous farmed land animals on Earth, and systematic welfare assessment using outcome-based measures is essential for identifying and addressing the most significant welfare problems in commercial production.

Key Facts

Approximately 70 billion broiler chickens are slaughtered annually worldwide
Modern broilers grow from hatch to market weight in 35 to 42 days compared to 84 days for slower-growing breeds
Gait scoring on a 0 to 5 scale is a validated welfare indicator with scores of 3 or above indicating significant lameness
Footpad dermatitis affects up to 80 percent of birds in some poorly managed flocks
Ascites and sudden death syndrome are cardiovascular consequences of rapid growth in broilers
The Bristol Welfare Assurance Assessment Network provides validated outcome-based measures for broiler welfare
Stocking density, litter quality, light management, and genetics are the primary determinants of broiler welfare

Welfare Considerations

Broiler welfare assessment requires outcome-based measures that reflect actual animal experience rather than input-based checklists of what is provided. The most widely validated welfare indicators for broilers include gait scoring to quantify lameness prevalence, footpad dermatitis scoring to assess litter and management quality, hock burn scoring, and mortality and culling rate tracking. These measures correlate with management quality and capture the most prevalent welfare problems in commercial broiler production. Lameness is particularly significant because even moderate gait abnormalities reflect chronic pain in birds whose locomotor systems are under continuous stress from their accelerated growth rate. Welfare improvement strategies with the strongest evidence base include switching to slower-growing breeds, reducing stocking densities, improving litter management, and providing environmental enrichment including perches and natural light.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken certified by higher-welfare standards specifying slower-growing breeds and lower stocking densities
Support retailers and food companies that have made Better Chicken Commitment pledges
Advocate for mandatory welfare outcome reporting including lameness and mortality rates for commercial broilers
Support organizations like Compassion in World Farming that work on broiler welfare policy
Reduce chicken consumption or choose plant-based alternatives to lower demand on intensive systems
Learn about the Better Chicken Commitment and which major food companies have signed it