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Certified Humane Comparison

Learn how the Certified Humane standards compare to the BCC.

A chicken

Certified Humane

Certified Humane does not meet BCC standards for litter, breed, lighting, or slaughter. Please see below for more details, or download the full chart.

Better Chicken CommitmentCertified Humane
Maximum Stocking Density6 lbs/sq ft✅ 6 lbs/sq ft
LitterAt least 3 inches of friable litter covering the whole floor of the house, managed to maintain dry, friable condition and prevent caked or wet areas❌
  • No measurable requirements for litter
  • “Wet or otherwise contaminated litter, or caked litter must be replaced promptly.”
LightingMinimum 8 hours of continuous light (≥50 lux) and 6 hours of continuous darkness daily (<1 lux)❌ Minimum 8 hours of light (average of 20 lux) and 6 continuous hours of dark daily
EnrichmentsFor every 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m), or part 1000 sq ft (93 sq m) of indoor space there must be a minimum of 1 enrichment✅ For every 1000 birds there should be: 1.5 standard sized long chopped straw bales, 2m of perch space and one pecking object
SlaughterProcess chickens in a manner that avoids pre-stun handling and instead utilizes a multi-step controlled- atmosphere processing system that induces an irreversible stun❌ Allows for various methods including live shackle slaughter
BreedAdopt breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes, either: Hubbard Norfolk Black, JA757, JACY57, JA787, JA957, JA987, JACY87, REDBRO, or Redbro M; Aviagen Rambler Ranger, Ranger Classic, Ranger Gold, Ranger Premium, or Rowan Ranger; Cobb-Sasso 200 (CS200); Cooks Venture Pioneer, or others that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol or Global Animal Partnership (GAP).❌
  • No measurable requirements for higher welfare breeds
  • “During selection of birds, care must be taken to select birds for high welfare traits and avoid genetic strains with undesirable traits”
AuditingDemonstrate 100% compliance with all standards via third-party auditing✅ 100% compliance with standards

References

Please note: This document is not intended to be used for official purposes such as auditing. It is a general summary of the key components of the Better Chicken Commitment and Certified Humane standards. For the complete standards, please reference the resources below:

We are committed to providing customers a sustainable supply of chicken that meets all 2024 animal welfare criteria outlined in the Better Chicken Commitment.

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