Broiler Chicken Enrichment and Better Lives

Environmental enrichment for broiler chickens can improve welfare outcomes even within the constraints of conventional intensive production.

Key Facts

Over 70 billion broiler chickens are raised globally each year, making them the most numerous farmed vertebrate
Modern commercial broilers grow from hatch to slaughter weight (2.5 kg) in just 35-42 days
Barren concrete floors with wood shavings are the standard environment in most intensive broiler production globally
Simple enrichments including perches, pecking objects, and environmental complexity reduce inactivity and leg problems
Natural light access and more complex lighting programs improve activity levels and circadian rhythm regulation
Aerial perches reduce footpad dermatitis by providing dry areas away from contaminated litter
The Better Chicken Commitment requires slower-growing breeds, better lighting, enriched environments, and improved slaughter methods

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chicken welfare represents the largest scale animal welfare problem globally by number of individuals affected. Barren environments cannot satisfy the motivation for dustbathing, perching, foraging, and exploration that chickens are strongly driven to perform. Enrichment provision even within intensive systems significantly improves behavioral welfare by enabling more natural activity patterns. Perches reduce the proportion of time chickens spend in contact with contaminated litter, reducing footpad dermatitis that causes chronic pain. Pecking enrichment reduces feather pecking and other injurious behaviors. However, the most significant welfare improvement comes from adopting slower-growing breeds that do not develop the painful leg deformities and cardiovascular problems of extreme fast-growing strains. The Better Chicken Commitment adopted by major food companies commits to addressing both breed and environment welfare problems simultaneously, representing the most comprehensive industry-level welfare improvement currently achievable.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment by purchasing from companies that have adopted it and holding companies to their timelines
Reduce broiler chicken consumption particularly from suppliers without meaningful welfare commitments
Contact fast food companies and retailers asking them to adopt and accelerate the Better Chicken Commitment in your country
Support welfare research funding specifically for broiler chickens since their welfare receives less research attention relative to their numbers