Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
The Better Chicken Option: Because We Can Make It Better
TBCO is a new standard that is meant to ensure improved conditions for chickens raised for food consumption. First, chickens are not made to grow faster than 50 grams every day, meaning that they are less likely to suffer pain and injury caused by fast growth. Secondly, the chickens need to be given enough space to roam, and are provided with a minimum light intensity of 50 lux to stimulate more natural feeding behaviour.
Healthier, happier chickens with fewer injuries and less antibiotic use are the outcomes of TBCO, leading to happier consumers and happier producers. TBCO demonstrates that we have the power to improve the lives of all living things, including ourselves, animals, and the environment.
Country: The Philippines
Project: The Better Chicken Option
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of animal welfare in the Philippines. While PAWS is widely known for its work with companion animals, it also leads national advocacy on farm animal welfare through The Better Chicken Option (TBCO), a campaign focused on improving the lives of broiler chickens raised for food.
The project addresses the rapid expansion of intensive broiler production in the Philippines, driven by fast-food growth and rising protein demand. Under current systems, chickens are bred for extremely fast growth and raised in crowded environments that prevent natural behaviors, leading to poor health, suffering, and increased reliance on antibiotics.
Through TBCO, PAWS aims to shift industry norms by promoting higher welfare standards, supporting partner farms, influencing restaurant sourcing practices, and working with government agencies to integrate humane broiler welfare standards into national policies.