Broiler Chicken Welfare: Understanding the Scale of the Challenge

Approximately 70 billion broiler chickens are raised and slaughtered globally each year. The scale of this industry and its welfare problems make broiler welfare one of the most pressing animal issues.

Key Facts

Broiler chickens are slaughtered at 5 to 7 weeks of age, having grown from a 40g chick to 2 to 3 kg
Modern broiler breeds grow approximately 3 times faster than those raised in the 1950s
Up to one third of broiler chickens suffer from painful leg disorders related to their rapid growth rate
Cardiac and respiratory disease from rapid muscle growth causes mortality in 1 to 4 per cent of flocks
Standard broiler stocking densities allow approximately the space of an A4 sheet of paper per bird at slaughter
Higher welfare broiler breeds growing at slower rates show dramatically lower rates of leg problems and mortality
The Better Chicken Commitment asks major food companies to commit to slower-growing breeds and better housing conditions

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chicken welfare represents one of the most significant animal welfare challenges in the world by virtue of the extraordinary numbers involved and the severity of welfare compromise in standard production systems. The suffering caused by leg disorders, cardiovascular disease, and the inability to perform natural behaviours affects tens of billions of animals annually. The solutions are well-understood: slower-growing breeds, lower stocking densities, environmental enrichment, natural light, and improved slaughter methods together address the most significant welfare harms. The Better Chicken Commitment, adopted by over 200 major food companies globally, provides a benchmark for meaningful improvement. Consumer choices, corporate commitments, and regulatory changes all play important roles in driving the industry transition necessary to improve welfare at scale.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products certified under higher-welfare standards or from producers using slower-growing breeds
Support the Better Chicken Commitment by asking food companies whether they have adopted it
Reduce overall chicken consumption given the scale of welfare compromise in standard production
Advocate for legislation requiring slower-growing breed standards in your country
Support animal welfare organisations campaigning specifically on broiler chicken welfare reform