Meat Chickens

The RSPCA Australia Standards underpin RSPCA Certified, Australia’s leading independent certification scheme focused on improving farm animal welfare. The RSPCA works closely with farmers committed to farming animals to higher animal welfare standards.

Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) is a form of stunning (inducing unconsciousness prior to slaughter) which may offer significant welfare improvements over the main commercial methods of gas and electrical stunning currently used for poultry. Its use in Australia should be considered. How does LAPS work?

Chickens are sociable, quirky and inquisitive creatures. Descended from jungle fowl, they still possess instincts strongly aligned with seeking shelter in vegetation and roosting up high at night to keep away from predators.

Breeder birds in the meat chicken industry lay the eggs that will hatch into chickens grown for meat. There are currently two main commercial meat chicken breeds in Australia, both of which have been selectively bred to grow and gain weight very quickly.

All animals need enough space to carry out their normal behaviours, and to be physically healthy. When it comes to meat chickens, it’s important that birds have enough room to exercise, explore, peck, dust bathe, forage, and rest.

Each year, across Australia, over 750 million chickens are raised for their meat. A bird that is weak, sick, injured, or unable to walk and will not recover from a disease or condition, must be euthanased.