Chickens Deserve Better

Largest animal charity joins Frankenchickens legal fight.

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The RSPCA brings scientific heft to our court case challenging Frankenchickens.

Broiler chickens on factory farm
Andrew Skowron / Open Cages

The RSPCA have joined as an intervener in our judicial review case, which argues that the Government has an illegal policy which permits the use of fast-growing Frankenchickens.

The Government tried to stop the RSPCA joining, but the judge ruled that the Court should be as informed as possible. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) attempted to block 400 pages of evidence on the suffering and health problems caused by fast growth in chickens - but they failed.

Now it is certain that the RSPCA will give oral testimony at the High Court when the case is heard on 3rd and 4th May.

The judicial review case will see The Humane League UK argue that fast-growing chicken breeds are illegal under current animal welfare laws. We’re arguing that the Government unlawfully permits their farming.

We will be represented by Advocates for Animals in the case, a law firm specialising in animal law.

The law is very clear - you cannot farm animals whose health or welfare suffers because of their genes. Frankenchickens are plagued by painful health problems for their short lives and suffer from illness at a much higher rate than more robust, slower-growing breeds.

These unfortunate birds make up around 90% of UK chickens raised for meat: one billion animals. If one billion chickens were put into a line, the line would stretch around the world 125 times.

Defra argues that it has no policy which permits the use of Frankenchickens, despite their extensive use in the chicken industry.

The RSPCA’s intervention is a huge moment for the case, and will hopefully put the suffering of fast-growing chickens beyond doubt. Although the Government tried to object, this is one argument they could not win.

The hearing in May is the next milestone, and could improve the lives of billions of chickens for good.