Jodi Darwood
Shocking new investigation reveals the horrifying reality for chickens on factory farms.
In brand new footage from German chicken farms with links to Lidl, a horror show unfolds. Filthy conditions, deformities, and abuse by factory workers; these vulnerable animals have no escape
The previously unseen footage comes from large-scale farms in the northwest of Germany with links to Lidl Germany. This investigation is the sixth in a series of shocking reports linked to the supermarket giant, with previous alleged animal mistreatment on factory farms in Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, and the UK.
This latest investigative report was recorded across 2022 and September 2023. In the farm in Löningen, footage shows day-old chicks being roughly thrown to the ground, action that could cause bone fractures for these small, helpless babies. In the farm located in Stadtlohn, workers are seen kicking and throwing chickens.
These acts have been reported by the Spanish organisation Equalia to German authorities for alleged animal mistreatment.
It’s not only abuse by workers that these chickens suffer from. The breeds used by these farms grow too big, too fast, to make as much profit as possible. They suffer from a whole host of painful conditions, including lameness. In the footage, birds with legs splayed out in front of them are seen desperately attempting to move by using their wings.
Investigations showing chickens in the UK experiencing similar issues caused by fast growth on farms linked to Lidl suppliers were revealed both in June 2023 and previously in September 2020. The suffering is systemic.
The horrifying health problems uncovered in this investigation, as in others, are down to Lidl’s use of freakish fast-growing breeds. These findings are as true for Germany as they are for the UK or any other country in which Lidl operates. The cruelty is built into the system itself - they must urgently sign the Better Chicken Commitment.
~ Claire Williams, Campaigns Manager at The Humane League UK
The footage shows chickens living in dirt among rotting carcasses. In some cases, the deceased birds have clearly been dead for a significant amount of time - a strong indication of poor management practices.
There are also birds who are unable to maintain their balance, a typical sign of botulism. This condition can be passed on through contact with the bacteria dead birds. Given the substantial number of deceased birds shown in the footage, the risk of a botulism outbreak is notably high.
The breeding of factory-farmed chickens poses serious risks to consumers. Laboratory screening of Lidl chicken meat, commissioned by the charity Albert Schweitzer Foundation, revealed that 71% of the samples were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These resistant bacteria pose a well-evidenced public health risk and can spread to the environment through wastewater and ventilation systems.
Change is crucial to ensure conditions on these farms improve. And change is possible.
We’re demanding Lidl step up and commit to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). Our campaign has seen us carry out 23 protests across the UK in the last year, including a 36 hour protest outside its HQ. Under the hashtag #LidlChickenScandal, 15 animal protection organisations have gathered almost half a million signatures to urge the German supermarket chain to stop selling these fast-growing chickens.
And we’re not stopping there.
To join the campaign, sign up to receive our emails and you’ll be able to take action to make the lives of chickens better.
November 2024 update: Following campaigning, Lidl Germany revised their broiler welfare standards. Read more here.
