Broiler chickens — raised for meat — represent the largest single category of farmed land animals globally, with welfare problems of a scale and severity that make them a central concern for animal advocates.
The welfare burden on commercial broiler chickens is enormous in both scale and severity. Fast-growing breeds suffer chronic pain from musculoskeletal disorders: lameness, skeletal deformities, and myopathies (woody breast, white striping) that impair normal function. Hock burn and foot pad dermatitis from lying on wet litter cause constant discomfort. Cardiovascular disease from rapid growth causes acute distress and death. The sheer number of animals affected means that even modest improvements in management or breed selection translate into enormous aggregate welfare gains. The shift from fast to slower-growing breeds — advocated by the Better Chicken Commitment and similar initiatives — represents the single most impactful welfare intervention available.