Frankenchicken’ suffering is UK's biggest animal welfare crisis, warns RSPCA

Britain’s appetite for cheap chicken is fuelling an animal welfare crisis on an unprecedented scale, the RSPCA has warned, with an estimated half a million birds dying on UK farms every week before reaching slaughter.

More than 1.1 billion chickens are reared for meat in the UK each year. The charity says around 95 per cent are fast-growing breeds, dubbed “Frankenchickens” by campaigners, whose rapid growth can leave them suffering from heart problems, leg deformities, lameness and painful skin burns.

Some reach slaughter weight in just 35 days, spending much of their short lives sitting down because their bodies have become too heavy, limiting their ability to perform natural behaviours.

The warning, issued on World Farmed Animal Day on October 2, comes as new research for the RSPCA suggests clearer packaging could persuade shoppers to choose chicken raised to higher welfare standards.

The charity describes meat chicken welfare as the “single biggest animal crisis” and fears rising demand, government plans to expand poultry production and businesses retreating from welfare pledges could condemn millions more birds to suffering.

Thomas Schultz-Jagow, the RSPCA’s executive director of advocacy and prevention, said: “We are at a critical crossroads. We’ve reached scales of suffering for chickens which have never been seen before and without action millions more birds every single year will suffer.”

Researchers tested a four-star labelling system identifying chicken by its farming method: Basic Indoor, Better Indoor, Free Range and Organic.

More than half of shoppers said they would not buy one-star chicken, the lowest welfare category, which the charity says accounts for most chicken currently sold.

The findings suggest shoppers could make different choices if packaging clearly explained how birds had been raised.

Thomas said: “The research showed most people sadly remain completely unaware of the suffering that are inherent in fast-growing breeds, which reach slaughter weight in just 35 days, and packaging also confuses people on how the birds were actually raised.”

The RSPCA’s call adds to pressure from wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham, who has urged the Government to remove fast-growing chicken from public catering.

In an open letter published by The European, Packham called for schools, hospitals, prisons, military bases and government offices to stop serving meat from these breeds. He argued that public purchasing could create reliable demand for higher welfare chicken and help farmers make the transition.

Packham also highlighted public support for reform, saying nearly 400,000 people had signed his petition urging supermarkets to stop selling fast-growing chicken. His campaign backs the Better Chicken Commitment, a set of welfare requirements that includes switching to slower-growing breeds.

The RSPCA says 18 major food service businesses have recently rolled back commitments under that initiative to phase out fast-growing breeds.

It also warns that the Government’s Land Use Framework and poultry sector growth plans risk concentrating more animals in intensive, lower welfare units. The charity has criticised the absence of an animal welfare representative on the new Food and Farming Board.

Yet it insists change is commercially possible.

Farmers supplying supermarkets through the RSPCA Assured scheme are already raising chickens to its higher welfare standards. The charity points to Norway, where the industry is on course to use entirely slower-growing breeds by 2028, and the Netherlands, where major supermarkets have phased out fast-growing breeds for fresh chicken.

The RSPCA wants governments across the UK to commit to phasing out fast-growing breeds, introduce mandatory welfare labels on poultry meat and reward businesses buying higher welfare chicken.

It is also calling for financial and technical help for farmers, alongside import controls to prevent lower welfare chicken from undercutting British producers making improvements.

Thomas said: “Every choice at the checkout is a vote for the kind of future we want for these animals.”

The charity also argues that modest dietary changes could reduce suffering substantially.

Thomas added: “Research by the University of Lincoln has revealed making small changes to our diets by reducing the amount of animal products we consume by just 3% each year, would lead to 1 billion fewer animals on lower welfare farms by 2050. You don't have to change your whole diet. Small swaps can make a big difference for farmed animals.”