RSPCA welfare standards for chickens

Our detailed RSPCA welfare standards have been developed to represent good practice in the care and welfare of commercially-farmed chickens at all stages of their lives (hatching through to slaughter).

RSPCA welfare standards for chickens (PDF 8.48MB)

RSPCA broiler welfare assessment protocol

Download the RSPCA Broiler Welfare Assessment Protocol 2017 (PDF 644KB).

For breeds accepted for use within the RSPCA Assured scheme, please visit the RSPCA Assured website.

Next planned revision of the standards

There are currently no plans to publish a revised version of the standards.

RSPCA chicken standards technical advisory group

Members of the advisory group are selected on the basis of the specific expertise they bring to the group in different areas of meat chicken care. Members include:

• Kate Parkes (RSPCA chicken specialist)
• Andrew Maunder (Chair)
• Muhammed Maliki (Moy Park)
• Sheelagh Johnson (2 Sisters Food Group)
• Richard Jennison (Poultry Health Services)
• Joe Bailey (RSPCA Assured)
• Annie Raynor (Food Animal Initiative)
• A representative of RSPCA field staff (Farm Livestock Officers) who monitor RSPCA Assured scheme members

For information on the group's discussions download:

• Summary meeting notes of the fourth meeting held in November 2018 (PDF 8KB)
   
• Summary meeting notes of the third meeting held in November 2017 (PDF 53KB)
   
• Summary meeting notes of the second meeting held in November 2016 (PDF 60KB)
   
• Summary meeting notes of the first meeting held in November 2015 (PDF 20KB)

Find out more about the consultation process for the development of the RSPCA welfare standards for farm animals.