Parent birds that produce commercial broiler chickens are kept permanently hungry to prevent the obesity and health problems caused by their high-growth genetics.
Broiler breeder chronic hunger represents a systematic welfare problem built into the commercial poultry supply chain. Because broiler genetics produce rapid-growing offspring, the parents cannot be allowed to eat freely without developing obesity and reproductive failure. The solution implemented — permanent caloric restriction — keeps breeding birds in a state of chronic hunger throughout their productive lives. Behavioral indicators confirm that these birds experience significant negative affective states from persistent hunger.