Chickens deserve better and KFC can do better

Top image credit: Aussie Farms

Chickens are intelligent, social animals that have feelings. They deserve better lives. KFC in the United Kingdom and six countries in Europe have committed to giving their chickens more room to move so they can perch, forage and flap their wings. They’ve agreed to use slower growing breeds with fewer health problems. They’ve also promised to give chickens access to natural light. This is all part of the Better Chicken Commitment to give chickens better lives.

KFC Australia has not committed to giving their chickens better lives. Chickens served by KFC Australia are among the millions of chickens raised in factory farms in Australia each year. These chickens are tightly packed with up to 60 thousand birds being housed in a single shed. As the chickens grow larger, they face restrictions on their ability to express natural behaviours such as roaming around and flapping their wings.

Fast-growing breeds are used which means chickens grow to their full size in an average of just six weeks. This accelerated growth rate, combined with low light levels and insufficient space to move, may lead to serious health problems including heart and lung failure, muscle weakness and lameness.

Chickens deserve better lives. If KFC in the UK and six countries in Europe can commit to this, why can’t KFC in Australia? Call on KFC Australia to sign the Better Chicken Commitment.