Compassion In World Farming Ireland

Facts About Irish Farm Animals - MEAT CHICKENS (BROILER CHICKENS)

Introduction

Broiler chickens are the birds that are reared for the meat we call "chicken". These birds have been especially bred over many years to grow quickly and put on weight (meat) in as short a time as possible. About 67 million broiler chickens are slaughtered each year in the Republic of Ireland for their meat.

What does Compassion in World Farming want ?

Birds reared and slaughtered to produce chicken meat should not be a variety of bird that grows so quickly that it suffers from painful leg and heart disorders. Compassion would like to see all broiler chickens kept free-range or organic, where they have plenty of space with access to outdoors. However, even if this is not possible for all broiler chickens, then the standards for indoor rearing should be high, with birds given plenty of space and slower-growing varieties used to avoid painful leg problems.

EU law

Compassion welcomed the new EU Directive (finalised in May 2007) that lays down minimum standards for the production of chickens reared for meat. However, we believe that the standards do not go far enough. In particular, Compassion is critical of the maximum stocking density laid down in the Directive. This permits birds in indoor systems to be stocked to a density of 39 kg per sqare metre, which is about 18 birds per square metre of floor space. Compassion is of the view that this permits overcrowding to continue and fails to give birds adequate space. We are also disapointed that the Directive does not tackle the problems caused by the use of fast-growing birds that are prone to painful leg problems.

Where do broiler chickens live ?

broiler chickens

Most broiler chickens have to live in huge sheds without any windows or any form of natural light. It is normal for the sheds to contain 10,000 to 20,000 birds or more. The birds are not kept in cages, but are reared on the floor which is covered with a deep layer of "litter", e.g. wood shavings. Conditions become very cramped as the birds grow; each bird may have only about 500 cm2 of space - an area smaller than the cover of a telephone directory (the photo shows how crowded broiler chickens are inside these sheds). The sheds are not cleaned out during the lifetime of the birds. The wood shavings may become damp, greasy and smelly. The wet litter contains ammonia from the chickens' waste. This can cause blisters to develop on the birds' breasts, ulcers on their feet and burns on their legs. These can all be very painful.

Conditions for rearing broiler chickens are similar throughout the EU, including the Republic of Ireland.

How are the chickens cared for ?

It is impossible for so many birds to receive individual care. The birds are fed and given water automatically by machines. The person in charge simply has to maintain the equipment, check on the general health of the birds, and remove those that die.

Does the fast growth rate affect the chickens' health ?

Yes. Most of the heart and lung problems are caused because the birds are growing so fast; many die from heart failure. Lameness is another problem related to such rapid growth.

The muscle (which becomes the meat that is eaten) grows very quickly but the development of the bird's legs and skeleton does not keep pace with the rest of the body. Therefore the legs have to support a great weight. A leading scientist has compared this to a nine year old child (in weight) having to stand on the legs of a five year old. Each year, a huge number of broiler chickens suffer from painful, sometimes crippling leg disorders.

When are the birds normally slaughtered?

Most chickens are killed between the ages of 6 and 7 weeks. Scientists have speeded up the growth process by carefully breeding from chickens which tend to grow fast (this is called "selective breeding"). Broiler chickens now reach slaughter age twice as quickly as they did 30 years ago.

How are the birds taken to the slaughterhouse ?

Once the birds reach slaughter weight, they are caught up and transferred to crates in the back of lorries. Usually, a person acts as a "catcher", picking up several birds by the legs. Many chickens suffer bruising and broken wings and legs during this process. Wings and legs may be trapped when the birds are being pushed into cages. Some birds die on the way to the slaughterhouse. These deaths can be caused by injuries, suffocation and shock.

How are the chickens slaughtered?

Chickens are taken from the crates and hung upside down on a conveyor belt. They pass through an electrically charged water bath which stuns the birds (makes them unconscious). They then have their necks cut, which kills the birds. Unfortunately, some birds are not stunned properly and may regain consciousness as they bleed to death.

What alternative ways are there to rear broiler chickens?

Chickens for meat production can be kept "free-range" (see photo). This means that they have access to outdoors whilst also having suitable shelter which they can go into to protect them from the weather and keep them safe at night.

Free Range Broiler Chickens
If the birds are "organic" then, in addition to having access to outdoors, they are also fed on a natural diet and certain organic standards are kept. Well-designed and managed free-range or organic systems are a kinder way to rear broiler chickens.

What you can do

Encourage your family and friends to buy "free-range" or "organic" chicken as this is produced from broiler chickens that have access to outdoors. Though it may cost a little more to shop in a compassionate way, it really does help the animals!

What now?

Compassion will do all it can to ensure that the standards for broiler chickens laid down in the EU Directive are improved. We will continue to encourage consumers to buy chicken which was produced in a welfare-friendly way, where the birds were reared on a free-range or organic farm.