Consumers want to be sure that all animals being raised for food are treated with respect and are properly cared for during their lives. The people and companies involved in raising chickens for food share the public’s concern.
To assist chicken producers and processors in this effort, in 1999, the National Chicken Council (NCC) developed the NCC Broiler Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist, which have been widely adopted by chicken farmers and processors to ensure all chickens are being properly cared for and treated humanely. Annually reviewed, the guidelines cover every phase of a chicken’s life and offer the most up-to-date recommendations for the proper treatment and humane care of broiler chickens — those chickens raised for meat.