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  1. Home
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  3. Farm animal welfare
  4. RSPCA Australia's Roadmap for Meat…
Meat Chicken Welfare

RSPCA Australia's Roadmap for Meat Chicken Welfare.

The RSPCA Australia Standards exist solely to improve farm animal welfare. Written by the RSPCA’s team of science experts, they are detailed and focus on providing better living conditions for farmed animals. We’re proud of the new Standard for meat chickens which represents a meaningful step forward, delivering higher standards of care, informed by independence, science and transparency, at a scale that can make a real difference. We're proud of what we've achieved so far, including the meaningful changes in the new Standard that will result in further improved bird welfare.

Comparison table

Revised 2026 meat chicken standard

Stocking Density
Why does it matter?

More space allows chickens to move around more easily, stay healthier, and cope better with hot weather.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
Chickens can be kept at up to 38 kg of bird weight per square metre in well-controlled sheds. Chickens given more space (28-34kg/m2) than required by law, depending on the type of shed. From 2031, chickens must be given even more space (28-32kg/m2)
Air quality
Why does it matter?

Clean air helps keep chickens healthy and reduce stress.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
The law sets few clear standards for air quality. Ammonia levels not to exceed 20ppm. Farmers monitor temperatures and manage air quality. Ammonia levels not to exceed 15ppm. Stronger requirements for managing air quality.
Outdoor access
Why does it matter?

Outdoor areas give chickens more opportunities to explore, forage, scratch and dust bathe.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the RSPCA Australia Standard?
Birds with outdoor access must be able to go outside for at least 8 hours a day. Requirements include shade and shelter for birds using the range. The updated Standard provides clearer requirements to make outdoor areas more accessible, attractive and safe for birds.
Stunning
Why does it matter?

Effective stunning helps prevent pain and distress before death.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
The law does not clearly define what counts as effective stunning. Electrical water-bath stunning and gas stunning allowed under strict requirements. From 2031, electrical waterbath stunning, which requires live birds to be hung upside down before stunning, will not be permitted.
Lighting indoors
Why does it matter?

Good lighting helps chickens stay active during the day and rest properly at night.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
The law has no requirements for light and dark periods, or light intensity. Chickens have a daily light and dark cycle, including at least 6 hours of darkness of which 4 hours are continuous. Chickens must have at least 6 continuous hours of darkness each day. From 2031, sheds must also include brighter and darker areas so birds can choose where they are most comfortable.
Litter quality
Why does it matter?

Chickens need dry, comfortable bedding so they can rest, scratch, forage and dust bathe.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
The law does not set detailed litter requirements. Sheds require good quality litter at least 50mm deep. The 50 mm minimum remains, farms must keep records of litter maintenance.
Catching and transport
Why does it matter?

Careful handling and transport help reduce stress and injury before slaughter.

Current law (2002 Code except WA)* RSPCA Australia Standard (2020) ✓ What's changed in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standard?
The law contains general requirements. Maximum time off water of 24 hours; no limit on the number of times a portion of the flock may be caught (known as ‘thinning’). Maximum time off feed and water of 18 hours prior to slaughter; thinning limited to 5. Stronger requirements for catching and transporting chickens. Maximum time off feed and water of 16 hours; thinning limited to 4.

Want to learn more?

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Offsite
RSPCA Australia Standard - Meat Chickens
Read the 2020 and the 2026 RSPCA Australia Standards for meat chickens
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Key Issues - Meat Chickens
What are the key welfare issues for the welfare of meat chickens?
Read more about the key issues
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Offsite
How are the RSPCA standards developed?
Read more on the RSPCA Knowledgebase

Next steps

Meat chicken welfare is complex — The Standard represents meaningful progress, but there are still areas where further improvements are needed. This includes ongoing work to address genetics, housing, handling and other practices across the entire production system.

That’s why the RSPCA has introduced an Enhanced Welfare section as an addition to the new Standard. The ‘Enhanced Welfare’ requirements are for producers intending to raise higher welfare meat chicken breeds.

See the new Enhanced Welfare section in the 2026 RSPCA Australia Meat Chicken Standard

The future…

Beyond RSPCA Certified and the RSPCA Australia Standard, what does a better future really look like for chickens farmed for meat in Australia? Here’s the future that the RSPCA would like to see, and what we will be working towards over the coming years:

  • Birds are bred and selected with a focus on welfare, with genetics that support strong, healthy heart, bones, and muscles, and allow birds to live active, healthy lives.
  • Birds are given space to move freely with natural daylight and choice to access brighter or darker lit areas for activity, eating, drinking, comfort behaviours, or undisturbed rest, as they choose.
  • Birds have access to an environment that supports their ability to engage in behaviours important to them including foraging, dust bathing and perching comfortably.
  • Birds are handled calmly and gently with handling and catching done with birds in an upright position.
  • Birds are raised together and picked up for slaughter as one flock, avoiding the stress and disturbance caused by multiple pick-ups (or thinning events) in the same flock.
  • Birds are transported in vehicles that provide sufficient space and adequate ventilation to ensure bird comfort.
  • Birds are killed without pain, suffering, injury or distress.

The RSPCA Certified Enhanced Welfare section is a significant step forward in starting to address some of these concerns.

You are in the driver’s seat. The most powerful driver for change in farmed animal welfare is consumer behaviour. Every dollar you spend on a product is a vote for the system that produced it.

Importantly, consumer demand for higher welfare products shows producers, brands and retailers that Australians believe animal welfare is important. You can take the first steps today.

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Icons Asking
Asking...

...for higher welfare products in supermarkets, cafés or restaurants

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Purchasing
Purchasing...

...higher welfare products to support farmers who are prioritising animal welfare

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Questioning
Questioning...

...brands about their farming practices

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Looking
Looking...

...for RSPCA Certified and asking about RSPCA Certified Enhanced Welfare products

We’re proud of our RSPCA Certified program, which has grown over the past 30 years to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of Australian farm animals, and which has become Australia’s best and most trusted animal welfare certification program

But RSPCA Certified is just one of the ways in which we can achieve better welfare for meat chickens within the system that exists. And there is still more work to be done.

Governments, industries, brands and animal welfare organisations must work together to achieve continuous improvement, meet consumer expectations and improve the lives of Australia’s meat chickens.

Improving the welfare of all chickens raised for meat is a long and winding journey – but we can take the first steps today.

A timeline of meat chicken welfare improvements the journey so far

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Timeline Images 02
1996–2009

Laying the foundations for higher welfare certification

RSPCA Certified begins as the RSPCA Accreditation Scheme and, later, the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme, creating a pathway to improve farm animal welfare beyond minimum legal requirements.

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Timeline Images 01
2010–2013

Introducing and strengthening the first meat chicken Standard

The first RSPCA Australia Standard for meat chickens is released, improving litter, lighting, shade, space allowance, enrichment, handling and slaughter requirements. A second edition follows in 2013 with stronger requirements for litter, perches, enrichment, catching, transport and slaughter oversight.

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Timeline Images 03
2015–2023

Growing impact and continuous improvement

More producers adopt the RSPCA’s Standard for meat chickens with hundreds of millions of birds farmed under higher welfare conditions each year. The 2020 Standard further strengthens requirements for lighting, shade, catching, health monitoring and slaughter processes.

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Timeline Images 04
2026

Delivering the next major welfare step-change

Representing a meaningful step forward in the welfare of meat chickens in Australia, the revised RSPCA Australia Standard is released, and introduces major changes to reduce stocking density, provide variable light intensity and phase out electrical waterbath stunning by 1 January 2031, alongside stronger requirements for chick transport, air quality, darkness, platforms, catching, staff training and slaughter oversight.

Importantly, it includes ‘Enhanced Welfare’ requirements intended for producers raising higher welfare meat chicken breeds.

Meat Chicken Roadmap Website Timeline Images 05 1
2027

Implemented from January 2027, the first assessments against the new RSPCA Australia Standard – Meat Chickens commence, marking six months since the revised Standard was published.

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