Backyard Chicken Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

The rise of backyard chicken keeping offers welfare advantages over industrial farming but comes with its own welfare challenges and responsibilities.

Key Facts

Millions of households in the US, UK, and Australia now keep backyard chickens
Backyard chickens often have much better lives than factory-farmed birds
Common welfare issues include predator attacks, respiratory disease, and parasites
Roosters are frequently abandoned or killed when prohibited by local ordinances
Hens continue to need care after egg-laying declines — many are abandoned at this point

Welfare Considerations

Backyard chicken keeping can provide hens with genuinely good welfare — space to forage, social companionship, appropriate housing, and attentive care. However, the welfare outcomes depend entirely on owner knowledge and commitment. Common failures include inadequate predator protection leading to traumatic deaths, failure to provide veterinary care, and abandonment or culling of hens once laying declines. The ethical responsibility of backyard chicken ownership extends to the entire lifespan of the bird, not just the egg-laying years.

What You Can Do

Research chicken welfare needs thoroughly before starting a flock
Provide secure predator-proof housing and runs
Plan for veterinary care, including for non-laying hens
Find a sanctuary or rehome hens if you can no longer care for them
Connect with local backyard chicken communities for welfare guidance