Broiler Chicken Welfare: The Scale Challenge and Solutions

Over 70 billion broiler chickens are raised annually. Their welfare is shaped by genetics, housing, lighting, and stocking density. Industry commitments to the Better Chicken Commitment are transforming the sector.

Key Facts

Modern broiler breeds grow from hatch to market weight in 35-47 days, compared to 84+ days for slower-growing breeds
Fast growth rates cause leg disorders in 15-30% of commercial broilers, causing chronic pain and mobility impairment
Gait scoring on a 0-5 scale assesses broiler mobility; scores above 2 indicate meaningful welfare compromise
The Better Chicken Commitment requires slower-growing breeds, improved lighting, lower stocking density, and enrichment
Over 200 companies globally have signed the Better Chicken Commitment including many major food service operators
Mortality from heart failure (sudden death syndrome) in standard broilers affects 0.5-1% of all birds
Litter quality management reducing wet litter prevents contact dermatitis affecting feet, hocks, and breasts
The Welfare Quality broiler assessment protocol provides validated on-farm measures of broiler welfare

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chicken welfare is the single highest-volume animal welfare issue in food production by individual animal count. The welfare problems of standard broiler production are systemic: genetics that prioritize growth rate produce animals that cannot support their own weight, respiratory systems overwhelmed by metabolic demand, and skeletons that develop pathological lesions under chronic weight stress. These are not accidents of management but predictable consequences of deliberate breeding decisions. The Better Chicken Commitment provides a clear, evidence-based path to significantly better welfare through slower-growing breeds that have the physiological capacity to support normal movement, behavior, and life quality. Consumer and corporate pressure through this commitment has already changed the practices of hundreds of companies.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from companies that have signed and are implementing the Better Chicken Commitment
Look for slower-growing breed certification including Global Animal Partnership Step 2+ or equivalent
Engage food companies that have not yet signed the Better Chicken Commitment to ask about their timeline
Support the Humane Society, Mercy For Animals, and Compassion in World Farming who negotiate BCC commitments
Reduce chicken consumption while shifting to higher-welfare certified alternatives
Learn to identify gait scoring problems in supermarket chickens to understand the scale of mobility impairment