Like all animals raised for food on factory farms, chickens suffer severely from inhumane conditions. However, what makes chickens different — and uniquely vulnerable — is how the meat industry has intentionally bred these birds to create unnaturally fast-growing breeds. We are dedicated to helping shoppers make informed choices and helping chicken farmers and producers shift toward healthier, higher-welfare breeds.
The Problem: Unhealthy Growth of Chickens
Americans eat a lot of chickens. In 2024, for the first time, the average American’s annual consumption of chicken surpassed 100 pounds. Of the over 9 billion chickens raised for meat in the U.S. each year, 98% are a Cornish Cross breed raised in filthy, crowded conditions on factory farms. These birds have been selectively bred over decades to grow rapidly and disproportionately, resulting in higher rates of illness and injury, including compromised leg and organ health beginning when they are just weeks old. The most comprehensive scientific study to date evaluated 16 chicken breeds and found that the fastest growers suffered the most from lameness and other disorders.
The Solution: Supporting the Transition to Better, Healthier Chicken Breeds
The links between chickens’ rapid growth genetics and their vast array of welfare issues are not well known by the American public. The ASPCA is working to change that and empower consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to purchasing chicken for themselves or their families.
Despite the widespread consumption of unhealthy chickens, there are other options including alternative breeds already being raised by some farmers across the country. We’re supporting those farmers and food brands who want to make this switch by providing them with the necessary resources to seek better options.
Our Work
We’ve built a collection of resources to educate consumers about the welfare issues associated with rapid-growing breeds [PDF], as well as connect them with brands and supermarkets that are prioritizing better options:
- Our Shop With Your Heart Grocery List highlights chicken products, including pet food and treats, from better chicken breeds.
- Our Label Guide shows shoppers what to look for on product packaging and differentiates between legitimate and meaningless animal welfare claims.
- Our Supermarket Scorecard evaluates the country’s largest supermarket chains on their commitment to transitioning to better breeds, as well as the extent to which they make better chicken products available within their own store brands, as well as on other critical animal welfare issues.
To complement our public awareness efforts and build market demand, we work directly with key stakeholders to provide resources, recommendations and supply chain connections, including chicken farmers and producers, food brands, supermarkets and certifications. These include:
- Farmers who raise broiler chickens and are looking for sources of funding to move to better breeds. We have provided direct financial support through grantmaking to farmers interested in field trials for healthier breeds in different regions using regenerative farming models.
- Researchers interested in the transition from conventional broiler breeds to those with better animal welfare outcomes can apply for our 2025 Farm Animal Welfare Research grants.
- Animal welfare and regenerative certifications programs that want to incorporate this welfare issue into their standards. Currently, higher welfare breeds are assured by A Greener World’s Animal Welfare Approved certification, and by Global Animal Partnership's Better Chicken Project logo.
If you work in the broiler industry and would like to learn more about the ASPCA’s work and resources on adopting better breeds, please reach out to [email protected].
