Farm Animal Welfare

Chicken Breed Welfare Assessment and Reform

Selective breeding for extreme production traits has created welfare problems in commercial chicken breeds requiring systemic reform.

Key Facts

Modern broiler breeds can reach slaughter weight of 2.2kg in just 33 days
Fast-growing broilers have reduced activity budgets, higher leg disorder rates and cardiovascular problems
Welfare-assessed breeds show slower growth but significantly better health and behaviour profiles
The 'Better Chicken Commitment' specifies maximum 30kg/m2 stocking density and slower-growing breeds
Consumer and corporate demand for higher welfare breeds is driving selective breeding reform

Welfare Considerations

Extreme fast-growing breeds carry inherent welfare problems that cannot be fully resolved by management alone. Skeletal weakness, cardiovascular disease and exercise limitation are breed-level traits. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds with improved welfare profiles represents the most fundamental available improvement to broiler welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from companies committed to slower-growing welfare breeds
Ask retailers about their breed welfare commitments and timelines
Support the Better Chicken Commitment and equivalent standards
Advocate for breed welfare assessment as a component of poultry welfare regulation