Every May 4th, the International Respect for Chickens Day is commemorated, promoted by the organization United Poultry Concerns. The initiative seeks to highlight the situation of millions of birds used in the food industry and question the intensive practices that dominate poultry production in much of the world.
Although they are often perceived as simple animals, scientific evidence shows otherwise. Research published in the journal Animal Cognition, including works by specialist Lori Marino, demonstrates that chickens possess complex cognitive abilities: they can solve problems, communicate through sounds and visual signals, anticipate events, and experience forms of empathy.
The magnitude of the system in Latin America
The Cage-Free Report 2024 from the Animal Observatory Latam reveals that between 70% and 98% of chickens in countries like Chile, Colombia, and Peru are raised in battery cages, a model that severely restricts their mobility and prevents basic behaviors such as walking, stretching their wings, or nesting.
Common industry practices include:
- Beak trimming without anesthesia.
- Forced molting, which artificially alters the reproductive cycle.
- Elimination of male chicks, considered unprofitable for egg production.
These conditions raise ethical questions and also have health implications: overcrowding favors the spread of pathogens and increases the risk of zoonotic diseases such as avian flu and salmonella.
In some countries, the issue is beginning to enter the public agenda. Chile is discussing legislative projects to restrict the use of battery cages and promote labeling systems that inform about the origin of products. However, the transition to more respectful models faces economic, cultural, and regulatory barriers.
The Argentine case
Argentina presents a particular scenario: according to the Argentine Chamber of Poultry Producers (CAPIA), in 2025 the country reached the highest per capita egg consumption in the world, with an average of 398 units per person per year. This level of consumption is sustained with approximately 60 million laying hens distributed across different provinces.
Activist Jesica Bon Denis, founder of Animal Intersectional, noted:
“Talking about chickens in Latin America is talking about a system that has long remained outside the public conversation. They are animals with complex capabilities, but they continue to be treated as production units.”
Argentina has sanitary regulations related to biosecurity and general management conditions, but does not have specific regulations that limit the use of battery cages or mandatory labeling systems.
International Respect for Chickens Day invites reflection on the relationship between humans and animals in the food industry. Scientific evidence confirms that chickens are beings with complex cognitive and emotional capacities. The productive reality in Latin America shows an intensive system that limits their welfare.
The discussion on more ethical and sustainable alternatives is just beginning in the region. The challenge is to integrate animal protection in a context marked by inequalities and high levels of consumption.
