Broiler Chicken Enrichment: Improving Welfare in Commercial Flocks

Broiler chickens raised for meat have limited behavioral opportunities in conventional systems; enrichment significantly improves welfare without major cost increases.

Key Facts

Over 70 billion broiler chickens are raised for meat annually worldwide
Conventional broiler housing is typically barren — litter, water, and feed with no enrichment provided
Broilers raised to modern growth rates often experience leg problems, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain
Environmental enrichment including perches, pecking blocks, and straw bales increases activity and reduces fearfulness
Higher welfare breeds growing more slowly have dramatically reduced health problems
The Better Chicken Commitment is a corporate pledge to improve broiler welfare across the supply chain

Welfare Considerations

Modern broiler chickens have been selectively bred for growth rates that outpace their skeletal and cardiovascular development. Many birds experience chronic lameness and cardiac stress by the time they reach slaughter weight. Even within existing production systems, simple enrichment interventions — perches, pecking objects, and improved litter quality — measurably reduce fearfulness and increase activity. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds with enriched environments and better stocking densities represents the highest-impact improvement available to the broiler industry.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment by choosing products from companies that have signed it
Reduce broiler chicken consumption or choose higher welfare alternatives like free-range or organic
Ask fast food and grocery retailers about their broiler welfare commitments
Advocate for slower-growing breed adoption in corporate supply chains