Broiler breeder chickens, parents of commercial meat chickens, are severely feed-restricted to prevent the health problems their growth genetics cause, creating chronic hunger welfare harm.
Broiler breeder welfare is one of the most intractable welfare problems in poultry production. The parent birds of commercial chickens are fed deeply restricted diets to prevent death from the same growth genetics that drive the broiler industry. The result is parent birds living in chronic hunger — a state of high motivation without satisfaction. The welfare harm is intentional and known. The root cause is genetic: using slower-growing genetics would reduce the need for restriction. Welfare reform that addresses broiler genetics therefore benefits both the commercial birds and their chronically food-restricted parents.