Leg health problems in fast-growing broiler chickens are among the most prevalent and serious welfare issues in modern poultry farming, affecting billions of birds worldwide.
Broiler leg health represents one of the largest scale welfare problems in global agriculture. Birds that cannot walk normally cannot access food, water, and social interaction normally - compounding welfare impacts across the entire production cycle. The root cause is selective breeding prioritizing growth rate over structural soundness. Switching to slower-growing breeds with better conformation reduces leg problems dramatically, as demonstrated in trials across Europe. Litter management, stocking density reduction, and enrichment also improve leg health, but breed selection is the most impactful single intervention.