Keep up the pressure for Australian chickens

Australian chickens deserve better

Half a billion chickens are bred in Australia every year. Many of them are kept in cramped conditions, with only the space of an A4 sheet of paper to move around. They are bred to grow so big and so fast that often their hearts and legs give out under the strain.

Right now, we have a chance to change all this.

The body overseeing the review of the Poultry Standards and Guidelines has just closed its public consultation process. It was a clucking great result with more than 160,000 Australians participating in the review. 

Now it’s up to governments to decide what to do. Listen to the thousands of Australians who called for change – or the industry that wants to keep chickens in cages.

In our submission, World Animal Protection called for higher welfare standards for factory-farmed chickens bred for meat. We called for welfare improvements such as:

  • A nationwide ban on cages
  • Enough space for chickens to stretch their wings, forage, nest and behave naturally
  • Slower growing breeds to reduce health issues
  • Darkness at night so the chickens can sleep and natural light during the day
  • Specialised vet care and trained staff to regularly assess chickens’ welfare
  • Regular reviews of the Standards and Guidelines so they will always be up to date with the latest science.

Help us keep up the pressure on behalf of chickens

The end of the public consultation for the Australian Poultry Standards and Guidelines is not the end of the process. Federal and State Governments will now consider all the submissions received and make a decision at the end of the year.

Let them know that you are watching, and that you expect them to make the right decision for Australian chickens.

Speak up for chickens

Sign our petition calling on Prime Minister and state Premiers to deliver change for chickens. Change that will give millions of animals more freedom to behave naturally, better nutrition and fewer health issues.

Later in the year as the decision date approaches, we’ll deliver this petition. The more signatures we have, the more powerful it will be. Add your name, to keep the pressure up. Together, we can help create change for Australian chickens.

Australians know chickens deserve better

Nearly all Australians (94%) believe some common farming practices are unacceptable. And nearly three quarters believe farm animals could be treated better in Australia. Consumers are beginning to demand higher welfare products.

Clearly, the tide of popular opinion is turning towards higher welfare for farm animals like chickens. But progress is slow – and the bureaucracy behind initiatives like the Poultry Standards and Guidelines mean that when change does happen, it happens slowly.

That’s why now more than ever, as the Standards and Guidelines are up for a once-in-a-decade review, it’s critical you make your voice heard if you want change for chickens.

Tell the world