Poultry Farming

Broiler Chicken Gait Scoring and Mobility Welfare

Gait scoring is a validated welfare assessment tool used to identify and address lameness problems in broiler chickens.

Key Facts

Modern broiler breeds are prone to leg problems due to rapid growth rates
Gait scoring uses a 0-5 scale from normal gait to inability to walk
More than 5% of birds scoring 3+ indicates a welfare problem requiring action
Slower-growing breeds have significantly better gait scores
Leg problems cause pain and reduce access to food and water

Welfare Considerations

Leg problems in broilers cause chronic pain and prevent normal behaviour including foraging and dust bathing. Breeding selection for rapid growth has prioritised production over welfare. Industry adoption of slower-growing breeds is the most effective long-term solution, while better management can reduce severity in existing flocks.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken labelled as slow-growing or higher-welfare breeds
Support broiler welfare campaigns advocating breed reform
Advocate for mandatory gait score reporting in poultry certification schemes