A broiler (also called a meat chicken) is a type of chicken raised specifically for meat production. Modern commercial broilers are specially bred for large scale, efficient meat production and grow much faster than other breeds. They have also been bred to produce the maximum amount of breast meat, the premium and most profitable meat.

Chickens are sentient beings. Like humans, they can feel pain and suffer. They are intelligent and if allowed will choose to live in complex social groupings. RSPCA believes that animals must be treated and farmed humanely. That is, if we as a society farm chickens for their meat we must ensure that their treatment is humane. Chickens can and will suffer if our farming methods don't consider the animals' welfare needs.

RSPCA considers that the welfare of an animal includes its physical and mental state and that good animal welfare implies both fitness and a sense of well-being.

RSPCA believes that all animals must be treated humanely. Chickens are the most consumed, most abused and least protected commercial animal in the world. Australians consume an astonishing amount of chicken meat each year, equating to the slaughter of 470 million birds. Of these birds 96% are farmed in conventional sheds, in conditions that the RSPCA believes do not meet their welfare needs. We believe that it is time for Australians to consider where their chicken comes from, and the suffering that is endured by those animals. More humane farming options are available that will better meet the animals' five basic freedoms.

The RSPCA believes that an animal's welfare should be considered in terms of five freedoms which form a logical and comprehensive framework for analysis of welfare within any animal use. It also allows us to consider the steps necessary to safeguard and improve welfare within the constraints of an effective livestock industry.

• Freedom from hunger and thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet which maintains full health and vigour.
• Freedom from discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
• Freedom from pain, injury or disease: by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• Freedom to express normal behaviour: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
• Freedom from fear and distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

The RSPCA considers that these freedoms will be better provided for if those who have care of livestock practise:

• Caring and responsible planning and management
• Skilled, knowledgeable and conscientious animal management
• Appropriate environmental design
• Considerate handling and transport
• Humane killing.

There are many ways that you can help to support RSPCA Qld's campaign for chicken rights not farming wrongs. Please read our campaign fact sheet for more information about how you can help. As a community we have the power to affect change. You can be a part of it! Primarily you can help chickens by making the right choice and choosing animals produced via humane farming methods, you can also voice your opinion by signing a petition, writing a letter, or telling a friend.

The industry is a business. If you demand higher welfare produced meat; industry will supply it. After all it is industry's best interests to meet consumers demands. Convert as many people as you can to increase demand for higher welfare produced meat. One by one, the more people that demand higher welfare produced meat, the more the industry will be forced to supply it.

KFC, Red Rooster and Nandos are the top three chicken fast food restaurants in Australia. Though MacDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Pizza Hut, Dominos, Eagle Boys, Subway and other fast food restaurants use chicken, they are not known for it. If we are able to convince KFC, Red Rooster and Nandos to provide humane choice options, we believe it will set a precedent for the rest of the industry.

Inghams and Biadia own over 70% of the chicken meat industry in Australia. There are seven other mid-sized businesses and very few owner operator smaller businesses. If we set a standard and affect change within the two biggest producers in the industry, we believe it will set a precedent for the rest of the industry.

Coles and Woolworths are the two largest supermarket suppliers in Australia. If we set a standard and affect change within the two most powerful and influential players in the supermarket industry, we believe it will set a precedent for the rest of the industry.

Typically, meat chickens are harvested at 35 days of age. 35 days is representative of a chicken's life before harvest; it is also enough time for a person to make a positive change in behaviour, making the "Right Choice" when choosing chicken.

Under the current Codes of Practice for poultry there is no meat chicken produced without some discomfort, fear or pain. Changes to how chickens are raised, transported and slaughtered are dependant on industry and government changes to the Codes of Practice. By refusing to purchase chicken meat raised in barren conventional shed systems, consumers have the power to change housing and living conditions.

Other poultry is not farmed as prolifically as chicken, however other poultry is farmed under the same Codes of Practice, and may suffer as well. Where possible, you should opt for free-range, certified organic or RSPCA Approved Farming of all poultry meat products.

It is impossible to say exactly how much extra it costs to buy more humanely farmed chicken - it varies markedly due to many factors such as the method of farming adopted. It does cost more, however, because more humane systems cannot grow the same number of animals per land space. To ensure a reasonable return for investment in the farm the resultant product, chicken meat, needs to cost more. Of course, as more and more animals are farmed in more humane ways the cost will come down due to market demand and economies of scale.

The use of hormones in poultry in Australia was banned in the 1960's. The claim that chicken meat is "hormone free" is misleading as all chicken meat is "hormone free". The only instance where, "hormone free" does apply is to meat chicken products from other countries where hormones are allowed.

Under the Model Code of Practice farmers are permitted to use antibiotics for the treatment of sick birds. They are also allowed to use antibiotics and anti-microbials for prophylaxis (prevention). The antibiotics and anti-microbials used in the chicken meat industry tend to be drugs that remain within the gastrointestinal tract. These drugs are used to prevent the birds from developing gastrointestinal infections and diarrhoea. Diarrhoea in turn causes the litter in the sheds to become moist which raises the ammonia levels and increases the chance of hock burn and other skin lesions. In other words, one could consider that these drugs are used in lieu of improved management practices.

As far as human health goes there is not much to be concerned about. The antibiotic drugs used by the chicken meat industry are ones that are generally not used for human health. Also, there are strict guidelines about how many days before slaughter any drug must be withdrawn, and residues in meat are regularly monitored. However, if one wants to be absolutely safe then one should choose organic options as no antibiotics are allowed to be administered. If a bird becomes sick and is given antibiotics then the meat cannot be sold as organic.

Conventional farming is where "(c)hickens are raised in large enclosed barns with litter (wood shavings, rice hull etc) on the floor. The older style farms have "soft" walls (called curtins) which allow a degree of control over air movement and temperature within the shed. Modern sheds are generally of the tunnel ventilated type, with solid walls, large fans placed at one end of the shed and air inlets at the other end which draw the air across large pads that can be soaked with water to generate evaporative cooling of the air. Floors are either concrete or compressed clay soil. ... Conventionally produced chicken represents 95% or more of the total production in Australia" (CMFA website: http://www.chicken.org.au/page.php?id=6, 22/02/2010)

Free-range "meat chickens are produced using similar management, housing and feeding practices as conventional meat chickens. The major differences are that free-range chickens are allowed access to an outside run for part of each day (at least post the brooding period), have lower target stocking densities and some health issues are managed differently. Antibiotics can be used to treat sick birds but, once treated, the meat from these birds cannot be sold as free-range." (CMFA website: http://www.chicken.org.au/page.php?id=6, 22/02/2010) Please look for accredited or certified free-range farm approvals.

Organic farming is similar to the Free-range systems with stricter requirements to feed, medication, access to outdoor forage areas and lifespan. Certified organic chicken meat must comply with The National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce.

Free-range chicken meat accounts for approximately 4% of chicken produced, with about half of it also being organic.

Note that at present chicken meat can be described as 'free-range' or 'organic' without being certified. It is important to look for a relevant certification.

Please see "RSPCA Qld's Chicken Farming Systems Comparison Chart" for detailed variances in the farming systems.

Food Labelling laws in Australia are complex and difficult to change. RSPCA has requested the government to consider labelling products derived from animals with respect to animal welfare criteria (similar to the Heart Foundation 'tick' of approval). Currently there is no government recognised definition for terms such as free-range. Sometimes the term is used loosely and falsely. Currently we rely on independent certification from recognised certifications bodies, eg. FREPA; ACO.

A code of practice establishes a set of rules or suggestions that form good practice on a specific topic matter or industry. Codes of practice are generally not legally binding but the whole or parts can be mandated under law and therefore become compulsory. The Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Domestic Poultry establishes a set of principles and practices for the farming of chickens. As with other animal welfare codes this code states that certain things 'must' be done and certain other things 'should' be done. In Queensland, parts of this Model Code of Practice are mandated under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.

The Model Codes were commissioned by the Australian Primary Industries Standing Committee and written by the Australian National Animal Welfare Committee. They were endorsed by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council.

The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 is the legislation in Queensland that is concerned with the welfare of animals. It is underpinned by the concept of the duty of care placed on anyone who has charge of animals in Queensland. It also recognises certain national animal welfare codes of practice or parts thereof.

Sections of the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - (the Code) are mandated under the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act (the Act). This adoption means that these sections are the law in Queensland and must be abided by. The other sections are adopted, becoming guidelines only. The compulsory provisions cover maximum permitted stocking densities, and feed, water and inspection requirements for domestic fowl.

The Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Domestic Poultry 4th edition states in the preface that "(t)he ... code ... will be further reviewed in 2010, although an earlier review will be implemented if technologies offering significant welfare benefits are a vailable." RSPCA Qld has been advised that this review in 2010 will not proceed and is not tabled for future discussions in the foreseeable future.

The conventional farms are not actually engaging in practices that are illegal; a well run conventional shed is within current federal codes, endorsed by Queensland legislation. As such the RSPCA has no right to prosecute farmers who are following the Codes.

Members of the public or any organisation do not have the right of entry to chicken meat farms. The only individuals with the right of entry are the property owner(s) and members of Queensland Primary Industries. Therefore, it is impossible for you to know what is happening behind the shed doors.

If you work in these sheds and have credible information regarding breaches of the codes or acts of cruelty against intensively farmed chickens, please contact RSPCA and/or Biosecurity Queensland.

The RSPCA Approved Farming scheme is an accreditation scheme designed to certify farms that operate on a large scale of production and uphold improved animal welfare policies set by RSPCA Australia. For further information regarding Approved Farming, please visit www.rspca.org.au/what-we-do/approved-farming-scheme.html.