Modern broiler chickens grow so fast that many suffer painful leg conditions and cardiac problems before slaughter age. Understanding these welfare issues is essential for informed choice.
The modern fast-growing broiler represents one of the starkest examples of selective breeding that prioritizes productivity over welfare. The breeds that dominate global production grow so rapidly that their cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems cannot keep pace, causing widespread chronic pain from leg problems and cardiovascular distress. The animals cannot escape their own bodies. At slaughter age (35-42 days), many birds are in constant discomfort simply from bearing their own weight. This is not an unavoidable consequence of chicken farming — slower-growing breeds in enriched environments demonstrate that broiler welfare can be radically improved at modest cost increase. Consumer choices and industry commitments to welfare standards drive the transition.