Denmark is considering banning the rearing of broiler chickens

Denmark’s Minister for Animal Welfare said on Wednesday that he wanted to ban the rearing of so-called “turbo chickens” — fast-growing broiler chickens — initially in the country and eventually across the whole of Europe.

“I want to push for a ban at national level, but it is clear that before moving forward with this issue, it must be examined from both a legal and, of course, an economic perspective,” – Christian Rabjerg Madsen told local broadcaster TV2.

„We are also seeking a ban at EU level,– he added.

It takes just five weeks to rear a broiler chicken to its final weight. By comparison, free-range chickens take 12 weeks to reach maturity.

On Tuesday, Danish television channel TV2 broadcast footage filmed with a hidden camera at one of Denmark’s largest chicken producers, showing that the chickens spend just three hours a day in the dark, although regulations require at least six. Shorter periods in the dark mean that the birds feed more and therefore reach a higher slaughter weight.

“The images shown do not reflect the level of animal welfare that I would like to see,” the minister emphasised.

Ch. Rabjerg Madsen also noted that a third of inspections in the country result in sanctions, which indicates “that we have common problems relating to animal welfare”.

Animal welfare was one of the key topics in the run-up to the parliamentary elections held in March in Denmark, a country renowned for its intensive pig farming and pork exports.

A 2025 report by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found that rearing slower-growing chickens is associated with better animal welfare.