Imagine being born into a body that’s designed to grow so fast, you can barely stand. This is the heartbreaking reality for millions of chickens raised for meat in Australia.
Selectively bred to reach slaughter weight in six weeks, these young birds suffer crippling health issues – and many never even survive that long.
Their bodies simply can’t keep up with the rapid growth demanded by the industry.
Chickens raised for meat are born into what can only be described as a genetic prison.
At the tender age of only six weeks, their bodies are already heavier than other breeds of adult chickens. These chicks would still be with their mothers – relying on them for warmth and protection, and being taught essential life skills such as foraging. But there are no mothers to guide and protect chicks destined to be killed for meat. From the moment they hatch, these vulnerable animals are condemned to suffer.
Chickens raised for meat have been bred to grow at an unnaturally fast rate to maximise productivity, and thus profitability. The ruthless pursuit of profits sees living, thinking, feeling animals treated as ‘production units’, with devastating impacts on their quality of life.
A major study conducted in 2020 revealed the immense suffering endured by chickens genetically bred to grow rapidly – identifying major animal welfare issues including reduced mobility, foot lesions, muscle damage and cardiovascular issues.
The Welfare Footprint Project revealed the alarming extent of suffering of chickens raised for meat. Their report revealed that rapid-growing chickens endure “disabling pain” – described as being so intense that “enjoyment or positive welfare is impossible. The pain is constantly distressing” at three times the rate of slower-growing chickens.
The most extreme pain category – “excruciating pain” – is five times more prevalent in fast-grown chickens. The intensity of this pain is described as being “intolerable, even for a few seconds.“
And yet, rapid growth is not only legal in Australia – it’s industry standard.
The unnaturally fast growth rate coupled with poor living conditions means that an astonishing 4% of chickens raised for meat won’t even survive long enough to be slaughtered. That’s around 26 million chickens who are dying every year in Australia as a direct result of the way they are raised. Their deaths are not unexpected, they are simply built into the ‘business model.’
What is perhaps more shocking to learn is that the rapid growth imposed on chickens, despite being known to cause multiple, extreme animal welfare issues, is standard across all farming systems – this includes free range, organic and RSPCA-Approved.
If you’ve seen the number of chicken meat products at your local supermarket adorning the RSPCA logo, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this means chicken farming standards in Australia are pretty good. The disappointing reality is that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
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Despite attempts to improve conditions through the charity’s “Approved Farming Scheme”, RSPCA Australia’s standards for chicken meat farming still fall well below new global standards endorsed by over 60 major organisations, including RSPCA UK and SPCA in New Zealand.
In fact, 93% of chicken farms in Australia are now RSPCA-Approved, despite most of these facilities being factory farms – and all of these ‘approved’ meat products coming from animals who endured short, painful lives.
While there are initiatives seeking to reduce the suffering of chickens raised to be eaten, the truth is that the current demand for chicken meat will continue to condemn these sociable, intelligent animals to suffering.
Refusing the most intensively farmed products is an important first step to eliminating some of the worst cruelties inflicted on chickens. But such entrenched farming practices will only be dismantled if caring consumers also make the choice to eat less or no meat. Put simply, they only exist because too many animals are being eaten.
We can’t turn back the clock, but we can shape a kinder future. As people become aware of the ethical issues relating to chicken farming and slaughter, more and more are choosing plant-based alternatives to chicken that are readily available in most supermarkets. Here are just a few handy resources to get you started!
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