Broiler Welfare and Better Chicken Commitment

The Better Chicken Commitment is a corporate welfare pledge addressing the most significant welfare problems in broiler chicken production.

Key Facts

Over 9 billion broilers are raised in the USA annually under intensive conditions
Standard commercial breeds grow so fast their bodies cannot support their weight
Approximately 26% of commercial broilers experience gait problems painful enough to affect movement
The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) requires slower-growing breeds, improved housing, and better slaughter
Over 200 major food companies have signed the BCC including McDonald's and Whole Foods
Slower-growing breeds take longer to market weight but show dramatically better welfare
Minimum space standards in the BCC allow chickens to display natural behavior
Meaningful enrichment including perches and litter for dust bathing is required under BCC

Welfare Considerations

Commercial broiler chickens are bred to grow so fast they routinely suffer from skeletal problems, cardiovascular disease, and muscle myopathies. Their rapid growth creates a situation where many birds cannot walk normally by the end of their short lives. Selecting for slower growth is the single most impactful intervention for broiler welfare - it reduces the biological basis for most major welfare problems. The Better Chicken Commitment is the most significant voluntary corporate commitment in farm animal welfare history if fully implemented, but corporate timelines have slipped and implementation monitoring remains imperfect.

What You Can Do

Support food companies that have committed to the Better Chicken Commitment
Ask your favorite restaurants and retailers about their BCC progress and timelines
Choose chicken certified by Certified Humane or Global Animal Partnership 3+
Reduce chicken consumption from producers not committed to welfare improvement
Advocate for mandatory welfare standards for broiler production to supplement voluntary commitments