Modern broiler chickens have been selectively bred for such rapid growth that their own bodies cause chronic welfare problems, making genetic reform a central requirement for meaningful welfare improvement.
Broiler chicken welfare is fundamentally a genetics problem before it is a housing or management problem. The growth rates of modern commercial breeds create physiological suffering that improved housing cannot fully address. Welfare advocates, food companies, and researchers have identified slower-growing breeds as a key intervention. The Better Chicken Commitment, adopted by hundreds of food companies, includes breed requirements that represent the most significant corporate welfare commitment for any farmed species.