commercial broilers
Eggs, broiler chickens and other poultry products are important sources of animal protien throughout the world.
Chickens are kept indoors but they have
enrichment, more space, more suitable lighting
(artificial or natural sources) and are from breeds with
higher welfare outcomes – including intermediate or
slower growth rates, as compared to intensive breeds with
faster growth rates.
Fast-Growing Broiler Chickens
The parent birds (breeder birds – see section at the end) used to produce meat chickens have their eggs removed and placed in an incubator. In the incubator, the eggs are kept under optimum atmosphere conditions and highly regulated temperatures. At 21 days, the chicks are ready to hatch, using their egg tooth to break out of their shell (in a natural situation, the mother would help with this). Chicks are precocial, meaning that immediately after hatching they are relatively mature and can walk around. A chick classified as a ‘day-old chick’ is up to 72 hours old
(this is when the yolk sac in the egg runs out).
Broiler industry
The broiler industry is the process by which broiler chickens are reared and prepared for meat consumption.