Farm Animals

Broiler Parent Flock Management and Welfare

Broiler parent flocks face specific welfare challenges including severe feed restriction that causes chronic hunger.

Key Facts

Broiler parents are feed restricted by 50-80% of ad libitum intake to control body weight
Feed restriction is imposed because ad libitum-fed broilers become too obese to breed effectively
Chronic hunger in parent flocks causes stereotypic pecking, aggression and foraging frustration
Selecting slower-growing parent lines reduces the severity of feed restriction needed
RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming have campaigned for reform of broiler parent welfare

Welfare Considerations

Chronic hunger imposed on broiler parent flocks represents one of the most significant welfare compromises in commercial poultry production. The animals experience persistent hunger throughout their productive lives. Breed reform toward slower-growing genetics reduces the severity of this welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment which includes parent flock welfare provisions
Choose chicken products from farms committed to slower-growing breeds
Advocate for feed restriction to be included in farm welfare audits and legislation
Follow CIWF research on broiler parent flock welfare reform