Farm Animals

Poultry Parent Flock Hunger and Welfare

The welfare problem of chronic hunger in broiler parent flocks kept on restricted diets to control bodyweight.

Key Facts

Broiler breeders are feed-restricted to 60-80% of ad libitum intake
Feed restriction is applied to prevent metabolic disease from fast growth genetics
Chronic hunger causes significant welfare deficit in affected birds
Qualitative feed restriction using bulky low-energy diets may reduce suffering
Genetic improvement could reduce the need for feed restriction long-term

Welfare Considerations

Chronic hunger in broiler parent flocks is one of the most significant unresolved welfare problems in commercial poultry production.

What You Can Do

Support development of welfare-friendly broiler parent management strategies
Advocate for research into genetic solutions to the broiler breeder welfare problem
Choose poultry from supply chains committed to addressing parent flock welfare