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The RSPCA has a new Standard for meat chickens; here’s everything you need to know

RSPCA Australia has strengthened its meat chicken welfare Standard, introducing changes such as lower stocking densities, improved lighting, better transport practices, and the phased removal of routine electrical water bath stunning by 2031. The updated Standard also enhances health monitoring, rest periods, and enrichment options, while introducing higher-welfare requirements for slower-growing chicken breeds.

RSPCA Australia
Tuesday, 8 September 2026

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The mission of RSPCA Certified is to create meaningful change for animals on farm, and improve the lives of the millions of farmed animals here in Australia. As the science of animal welfare continues to advance and community expectations evolve, the Standards that underpin RSPCA Certified must also be regularly reviewed and strengthened. This commitment to continuous improvement is at the centre of the newly revised RSPCA Australia Standard for meat chickens, which includes updated requirements designed to deliver meaningful and practical welfare improvements for chickens raised on RSPCA Certified farms.

Reviewed every five years, the RSPCA Australia Standards help to ensure that animal welfare requirements keep up with the latest scientific evidence, while remaining achievable for committed producers. This latest review of the meat chicken Standard aims to provide greater environmental complexity and opportunity for meat chickens to experience positive mental states while also further addressing important challenges relating to the handling, transport, and slaughter of birds.

What’s changed

Among the most significant changes are a phased reduction in stocking density, to give chickens more room to move around freely, the phased introduction of variable light intensity to allow chickens to choose between brighter and darker lit areas of the shed, and the phase out of routine electrical water bath stunning – all by 1 January 2031.

Other important changes to the revised Standard include:

Chicks must be provided hydration for any journey six hours or more
Expanded recording requirements to better monitor chick health
Increased air quality monitoring in the shed
Increased period of continuous darkness to allow chickens more time to rest
Option to introduce platforms as well as or instead of perches to give chickens more choice
Improvements in catching and transport of birds to minimise stress and risk of injury
And, the addition of an ‘enhanced welfare’ section for producers wishing to raise higher welfare (or slower growing) meat chicken strains to.

Together, these updates mark the next step in the RSPCA’s ongoing work to improve the welfare of farmed animals in Australia. By supporting lower stocking densities, more choice within the shed environment, improved opportunities for rest, and better safeguards during handling and transport, the revised Standard is designed to deliver practical improvements in the daily lives of meat chickens on RSPCA Certified farms.

The new Standard also sets a clearer direction for the future of meat chicken farming in Australia, where welfare means more than meeting basic needs. The RSPCA recognises there is still more to do and will continue working towards systems that better support chickens’ health, comfort, natural behaviours, and positive experiences throughout their lives. Because these curious and social birds deserve nothing less.

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The RSPCA has a new Standard for meat chickens; here’s everything you need to know

What’s changed

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