Billions of broiler chickens live in barren sheds with little to do but eat and grow. Even modest environmental enrichment can measurably improve welfare outcomes for these animals.
Broiler chicken welfare suffers from the combination of extreme genetics and barren environments. Fast-growing breeds are physically incapable of the activity levels normal for chickens, and bare sheds provide nothing to engage with even for those with better mobility. Enrichment that works within commercial constraints — bales, pecking blocks, hanging objects — has been shown to increase time spent foraging and exploring. Breed change toward slower-growing genetics is the most impactful single intervention, as it addresses the root cause of mobility limitation. The Better Chicken Commitment, adopted by hundreds of food companies, combines breed requirements with environmental enrichment standards.