Broiler Chicken Leg Disorders: Scale and Welfare Impact

The prevalence and welfare consequences of leg disorders in fast-growing broiler chickens in commercial production.

Key Facts

Leg disorders affect an estimated 25-30% of commercial broiler chickens due to rapid growth rates
Modern broiler breeds are selected for fast muscle growth that outpaces skeletal development
Lame broilers spend significantly more time lying in wet litter, causing painful hock burns
Gait scoring systems show that the majority of commercial broilers would be treated as lame in other contexts
Slower-growing breeds show dramatically lower rates of leg disorders and other welfare problems

Welfare Considerations

Leg disorders represent one of the most significant and widespread welfare problems in commercial broiler production. The genetic selection for rapid growth has created birds whose skeletal systems cannot keep pace with muscle development, leaving millions of birds experiencing chronic pain with every step. Birds in severe pain spend more time recumbent, which causes secondary hock burns from contact with wet litter — a painful welfare problem compounding the original one. Reform requires a shift to slower-growing breeds, improved stocking densities, and litter management standards that collectively reduce the systemic welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from slower-growing breed programs such as those certified by the Better Chicken Commitment
Encourage food companies and restaurants to commit to better chicken welfare sourcing standards
Reduce or eliminate chicken consumption, particularly from unlabeled conventional sources
Support advocacy organizations pushing for mandatory gait scoring and growth rate limits in broiler production