Broiler Chicken Welfare: The Scale of the Problem

Broiler chickens represent the single largest category of land animal welfare concern globally, with tens of billions of individuals living short lives in conditions causing significant suffering.

Key Facts

Approximately 70 billion broiler chickens are slaughtered annually worldwide for food
UK broilers are typically housed at densities of 33-39 kg per square meter, severely limiting movement
Fast-growing breeds used commercially reach slaughter weight in 35 days compared to 90+ for traditional breeds
Lameness affects up to 30% of commercial broilers, with studies showing most prefer to lie down due to leg pain
The Better Chicken Commitment asks producers to adopt slower growth rates, lower densities and improved housing

Welfare Considerations

The scale of broiler chicken welfare is staggering in a way that is difficult to comprehend. Every day, hundreds of millions of individual chickens with the cognitive and emotional complexity described by welfare science live in crowded, barren sheds, unable to walk without pain, without natural light, without perches or enrichment, and without the opportunity to perform any of the behaviors that define their species. The aggregate suffering involved dwarfs almost any other human-caused animal welfare harm in history. Yet the solutions are known, achievable and partially economically neutral. Corporate welfare commitments, consumer pressure and regulatory change could transform this within a decade.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment and buy from companies that have signed it
Reduce chicken consumption from conventional intensive systems
Write to your favorite food companies asking them to sign the Better Chicken Commitment
Advocate for UK regulations requiring adoption of Better Chicken Commitment standards for all commercial production