Bred to suffer

The breeds used commercially in New Zealand have been selectively bred to grow abnormally fast. This causes the chickens significant suffering as their bodies can’t keep up.

Crammed into chicken sheds

Around 40,000 chickens are crammed into each dimly-lit shed. As they grow, they have less space to move and the air becomes laced with ammonia, as does the litter they lie on. ​

Misleading labelling

Chicken companies use labels on their packaging such as ‘cage free’ and ‘no added hormones’. No chickens are kept in cages or fed hormones. These labels are designed to mislead people into thinking they are buying chickens who have had better lives or are healthier, than other brands.

Grabbed at night and crammed into boxes

The methods used when clearing the shed to take birds to the slaughterhouse can cause panic. Birds can suffocate and die. The chickens are crammed into plastic boxes and travel to the slaughterhouse on the back of a truck.

Slaughtered in fear

The methods used for chicken slaughter in New Zealand are stressful, they cause fear and can be very painful. The effectiveness of stunning is questionable and there are other methods used overseas that cause less suffering.  ​

Free-range chickens still suffer

There is an increase in so-called ‘free-range’ chicken production. Sadly, life is little better for the chickens in industrial free-range’, as the same fast-growing breeds are used and tens of thousands are birds are in each shed.

Making life better for chickens

Overseas, there are over 600 commitments by food businesses to making life better for chickens, by providing more space, better living conditions and using healthier, more naturally growing birds.

The Better Chicken Commitment is a set of higher welfare standards that make a real difference to the lives of chickens.