Meat Chickens (Broilers)

Extreme growth, extreme suffering 

More than 700 million meat chickens are raised and slaughtered in Australia each year, and most of them are bred to grow so large and so quickly, they struggle to walk. The result? Deformed bones, painful fractures, skin burns from lying in waste, and heart conditions. 

Meat chickens are a completely different breed of chicken to the hens that lay eggs. To produce cheap chicken meat, these birds (broilers) have been genetically selected to grow too big and too fast for their own bodies to handle. In fact, they gain weight so fast their bones are not strong enough to support them. This means they can be ready to go for slaughter at just 5 weeks of age (35 days).  

Modern chicken farming involves tens of thousands of birds being packed into sheds at high densities. They never experience natural light or clean air, or have enough room to scratch around or dust bathe, or perch. That’s the real cost of cheap chicken. 

In less than a century, the chicken industry has created chickens which grow twice as big in half the time which is standard practice here—all commercially produced chicken meat in Australia comes from fast-growing chickens. But it doesn’t have to be.                                                    

It’s crucial for the industry to change course and switch to slower-growing breeds to prevent much of this suffering. The industry won’t change unless people know the truth because chickens deserve more space, more light, more comfort.  

What you can do

1. Speak up for chickens! When you next dine out or visit any food businesses selling chicken meat, let them know how concerned you are about these welfare issues and call on them to commit to slower-growing chickens. 
2. Learn more about the progress for chickens raised for meat around the world in this blog, Breaking: Fast-growing ‘frankenchickens’ to be phased out under G.A.P. certification 
3. Reduce chicken meat in your diet, or ditch it altogether and opt for more plant-based meals. Our blog shares various ways to reduce animal product intake to help inspire you.   
4. Spread the word with friends and family, because most people are unaware about how much chickens suffer for meat, and what can be done about it. 

  Meat chickens (broilers)
Image credit: Animals Uncovered

Image credits: Banner and top image: Farm Transparency Project