Farmed Broiler Chicken Leg Health and Mobility

Leg disorders are among the most serious and widespread welfare problems in broiler chicken production, with the majority of commercial birds experiencing some degree of painful lameness before slaughter.

Key Facts

Commercial broiler chickens have been selectively bred to reach slaughter weight in just 35-42 days — double the growth rate of 50 years ago
Rapid breast muscle growth creates a top-heavy body that stresses developing leg joints and bones disproportionately
Gait scoring studies find that 25-30% of commercial broilers have severe lameness causing significant walking impairment
Lame broilers spend more time sitting, which leads to hock burns — painful skin lesions from prolonged contact with litter
Tibial dyschondroplasia, valgus-varus deformities, and bacterial chondronecrosis are the most common leg conditions
Birds with severe lameness show reduced access to feed and water, compounding welfare problems beyond mobility
Slower-growing breeds reaching slaughter weight in 56+ days show dramatically lower leg disorder prevalence
The Better Chicken Commitment and European Chicken Commitment require slower-growing breeds and improved welfare conditions
Pain studies confirm broiler lameness causes significant suffering — affected birds self-select analgesics when given the choice
Some major food companies including fast-food chains have committed to the European Chicken Commitment sourcing standards

Welfare Considerations

Broiler leg disorders represent one of the largest sources of farm animal suffering globally. The sheer scale of broiler production — over 70 billion birds slaughtered annually worldwide — means that even modest improvements in lameness prevalence affect hundreds of millions of animals. The switch to slower-growing breeds is the most impactful single intervention available, addressing the genetic root cause rather than managing symptoms. Consumer and corporate purchasing decisions are the primary lever for driving this transition.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken certified under Better Chicken Commitment or European Chicken Commitment standards
Ask restaurants and fast-food chains whether they have made or plan to make chicken welfare commitments
Reduce chicken consumption or choose plant-based alternatives to reduce demand for intensive broiler production
Support campaigns pressuring food companies to adopt meaningful chicken welfare sourcing commitments
Advocate for mandatory slower-growth breed requirements in national poultry welfare legislation
Support farmed animal welfare organisations leading on broiler welfare campaigns and corporate engagement