Broiler Breeder Welfare: The Parent Generation Problem

Broiler breeder birds — the parents of meat chickens — experience chronic hunger from feed restriction programs required to prevent fatal overgrowth.

Key Facts

Broiler breeders are fed 60-80% of their ad libitum appetite to prevent the growth-related health problems of their offspring
Chronically hungry broiler breeders spend significantly more time performing stereotypic behavior than sated birds
Alternative feeding systems including skip-a-day and controlled release have somewhat variable welfare outcomes
The root cause is selection for extreme growth genetics that creates a welfare dilemma in the parent generation
Consumer certifications rarely address broiler breeder welfare despite its significance

Welfare Considerations

Broiler breeder welfare represents an unresolved dilemma at the heart of poultry production. Breeding birds must be kept chronically hungry to prevent the cardiovascular and skeletal problems their genetics predispose them to, but chronic hunger is itself a significant welfare harm. This is not a problem that management can fully resolve — it is a consequence of the genetic architecture of commercial broiler chickens. Transitioning to slower-growing genetics would reduce the severity of the breeder feed restriction dilemma, providing yet another welfare argument for the genetic reform that the Better Chicken Commitment promotes.

What You Can Do

Support Better Chicken Commitment campaigns that address broiler genetics at the root of the breeder welfare problem
Advocate for certification programs to include broiler breeder welfare alongside commercial flock standards
Learn about the broiler breeder welfare issue to communicate the systemic nature of poultry welfare challenges
Reduce commercial chicken consumption to reduce demand for intensive broiler production systems