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Unique chicken images published in Helsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat has published unique images from Project 1882 documenting the entire life of Finnish Frankenchickens. The footage follows the chickens throughout their lives before they are sent to slaughter, shedding light on the reality inside Finnish chicken factory farms.
A short life marked by suffering
Every year, more than 80 million chickens are raised and slaughtered in Finland. Most belong to the fast-growing breed Ross 308 – so called Frankenchickens − that can reach up to 50 times their weight in just 35 days. Their rapid growth is associated with a range of welfare problems, including difficulty walking, painful leg disorders, diseases, and increased mortality.
Project 1882's footage offers a rare and disturbing glimpse into the realities faced by chickens during their short lives.
"These images reveal the hidden cost of breeding animals for extreme growth. When chickens are pushed to grow so fast that many struggle to walk, suffering is not an accident. It is built into the system," says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.
What the footage shows
The material was filmed on two Finnish factory farms in April, May and August 2026. One of the factory farms is in Eura and the other is in Kauhava. The footage reveals chickens unable to move, dead animals among the living, and extremely cramped conditions as they grow to their full size.
The footage filmed in Kauhava follows the growth of a single flock of Frankenchickens from placement to slaughter age, documenting the development of breeding-related welfare problems as the animals grow larger in the rearing house.
Time to phase out Frankenchickens
Across Europe, momentum is building to move away from fast-growing chicken breeds that are bred for extreme growth at the expense of animal welfare. Project 1882 is calling on Finland to join this transition and phase out Frankenchickens.
"No animal should be genetically designed for suffering. It's time for Finland to phase out Frankenchickens", says Benny Andersson.
Project 1882 calls for:
- A ban on and phase-out of Frankenchickens in the EU
- Both industry stakeholders and policymakers to take responsibility for the transition
- Stronger animal protection legislation, through political action
How Project 1882 works for the chickens
Project 1882 works to improve the lives of chickens while accelerating the transition towards a food system that does not rely on animal exploitation. We advocate for stronger animal welfare standards, including the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), and encourage companies to reduce their reliance on chicken products and expand plant-based alternatives.
We educate and inform the public about the realities of animal factories, while putting pressure on politicians and decisionmakers to strengthen protections for chickens and support a shift towards more sustainable and compassionate food systems.
Frankenchickens: Bred to suffer
Sign the petition to ban Frankenchickens in Finland.
