Broiler chickens are the most farmed birds globally, with welfare compromised by fast-growing breeds, high stocking densities, and barren environments. The Better Chicken Commitment offers a concrete reform pathway.
The welfare problems of broiler chickens are largely a consequence of selective breeding for extreme growth rate rather than health and fitness. The resulting birds accumulate body mass faster than their cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems can support, leading to chronic pain, immobility, and cardiac failure. These are systemic problems requiring systemic solutions — breed change, density reduction, and environmental enrichment. Individual consumer choices supporting BCC-committed companies create the market signal that drives industry change.