Thanks for the question!
The chicken handling (carrying chickens by their legs) was investigated by the Animal Welfare Committee, which is an independent body that advises the Government irrespective of if it is a Labour Government or a Conservative Government). Essentially as it stands, it is illegal to carry chickens by their legs but it is permitted in the codes of practice (and is a carrying method we believe is widely used). The AWC recommended that the law be changed to allow carrying chickens by the legs. This recommendation came out under the previous Government, but they didn't make a policy decision on this before the election. Now that we have a new Government, a policy decision has been made.
Hi Dylan,
In response to your question, this RSPCA report explores the question of fast-growing breeds of broiler chicken. They highlighted the intense suffering that these birds face and the inefficiencies of this system of farming. It is a 36-page report so here are a few key bits of the text:
The Welfare Footprint Project used the Cumulative Pain Framework to investigate how the adoption of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) and similar welfare certification programs affect the welfare of broilers. Specifically, they examined concerns that the use of slower-growing breeds may increase suffering by extending the life of chickens for the production of the same amount of meat. From their main findings they stated:
'Our results strongly support the notion that adoption of BCC standards and slower-growing broiler strains have a net positive effect on the welfare of broiler chickens. Because most welfare offenses endured by broilers are strongly associated with fast growth, adoption of slower-growing breeds not only reduces the incidence of these offenses but also delays their onset. As a consequence, slower-growing birds are expected to experience a shorter, not longer, time in pain before being slaughtered.'
You can also read our own white paper on the welfare of broiler chickens.
I hope that helps answer your question.