Poultry Farming

Poultry Parent Flock Restricted Feeding Welfare

Broiler parent birds are routinely feed-restricted to prevent obesity but this causes chronic hunger that is now recognised as a major welfare problem.

Key Facts

Broiler parents fed ad libitum become obese due to genetic selection for rapid growth
Feed restriction reduces daily feed to 25-30% of what birds would voluntarily consume
Restricted birds show extreme food motivation and stereotypic foraging behaviour
European Food Safety Authority identified parent flock hunger as a major welfare concern
Alternative genetics with lower appetite could allow welfare improvements

Welfare Considerations

Broiler parent birds experience chronic hunger throughout their productive lives as a direct consequence of breeding for rapid growth in offspring. This conflict between genetics and welfare cannot be resolved by better management within current breeds. Developing and adopting alternative genetics is the only long-term solution, alongside welfare-focused selection criteria.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns advocating welfare-focused breeding in poultry genetics companies
Choose eggs and chicken from farms using slower-growing parent stock
Advocate for EU-equivalent restrictions on feed restriction practices