Broiler Chicken Leg Health and Mobility

Leg disorders in broiler chickens cause widespread chronic pain and are directly linked to the selection for rapid growth in commercial poultry production.

Key Facts

Up to 30% of commercial broilers have significant leg problems causing pain and lameness
Fast-growing breeds reach market weight in 35-42 days — their skeleton cannot keep pace with muscle growth
Lame broilers spend more time lying in wet litter, increasing the risk of hock burn and breast blisters
Slower-growing breeds (56+ day growth period) show dramatically lower rates of leg disorders
The EU Broiler Directive sets minimum welfare standards but does not address breed selection

Welfare Considerations

Leg disorders in broilers represent one of the largest scale sources of farm animal suffering globally. Birds with moderate to severe lameness show clear pain behaviours and spend significantly more time inactive on wet, ammonia-laden litter. Skeletal pathologies including tibial dyschondroplasia and valgus-varus deformities are common consequences of selection purely for rapid weight gain. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds is the single most impactful welfare improvement available to the industry.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products bearing slower-growing breed certification (e.g., RSPCA Assured, Better Chicken Commitment)
Support corporate campaigns pressuring retailers to adopt Better Chicken Commitment standards
Reduce consumption of intensively reared chicken
Contact your supermarket and ask about their broiler welfare commitments