Modern broiler chickens have been bred to grow so rapidly that many cannot support their own weight. This systemic welfare problem affects over 9 billion birds annually in the US.
The broiler chicken welfare crisis is one of the largest sources of animal suffering on earth. Over 9 billion birds per year in the US alone experience a short life compromised by breeds selected purely for growth rate. Chickens that grow so fast their legs cannot support their weight spend significant portions of their brief lives unable to walk normally, resting on their hocks in litter that causes painful burns. Heart attacks from cardiovascular systems that cannot keep pace with skeletal muscle growth are a leading cause of pre-slaughter mortality. These are not incidental welfare failures but the predictable consequences of breeding decisions made purely for economic efficiency. The solution is both clear and feasible: transitioning to slower-growing breeds significantly improves welfare outcomes.