Higher welfare alternatives
The following systems offer significantly higher welfare for meat chickens.
Free-range and organic systems
Free to range
Free-range and organic chickens have access to fresh air and green spaces.
The environment can be improved by adding trees and shrubs for cover and shelter.
Standard free-range
Free-range meat chickens
In these systems, the chickens are given continuous access to an outdoor range during the daytime and sheds where they are housed at night. Free-range chickens grow more slowly than intensive chickens. They live at least 56 days. In the EU each chicken must have one square metre of outdoor space.
The benefits are a reduced growth rate and opportunities for natural behaviour such as pecking, scratching, foraging and exercise outdoors, as well as fresh air and daylight. Because they grow slower and and have opportunities for exercise free-range chickens have better leg and heart health and a much higher quality of life.
Organic
In organic systems, chickens are also free-range. Organic chickens are slower growing, more traditional breeds and live typically for around 81 days. They grow at half the rate of intensive chickens. They have a larger space allowance outside (at least 2 square metres and sometimes up to 10 square metres per bird).
Indoor with higher welfare
In these systems, chickens are kept indoors but with more space (around 12 to 14 birds per square metre). They have a richer environment for example with natural light or straw bales that encourage foraging and perching. The chickens grow more slowly and live for up to two weeks longer than intensively farmed birds.
The benefits of higher welfare indoor systems are the reduced growth rate, less crowding and more opportunities for natural behaviour. RSPCA Freedom Food and Tesco Willow Farm Chicken are examples.
Find out how you can help to end the intensive farming of chickens.