Moving beyond absence-of-suffering measures, positive welfare indicators for broiler chickens identify when birds are experiencing good welfare through active, engaged behaviour and positive affective states.
Broiler chicken welfare assessment has evolved from counting dead birds and sick animals toward measuring positive experiences. Chickens in good welfare conditions dustbathe, forage, perch, and engage in social play — behaviours that indicate positive affective states. Slow-growing breeds, lower stocking densities, and environmental enrichment significantly increase positive indicator frequencies compared to conventional intensive housing. The business case for positive welfare — demonstrated through consumer willingness to pay premiums for higher-welfare products — aligns commercial and welfare incentives in ways that minimum legal compliance alone does not.