This chapter reviews the range of issues affecting the health and welfare of young chickens. It starts by assessing the welfare of parental stock and its effects on offspring. The chapter then reviews research on incubation practices to optimize chick welfare. The chapter also discusses hatching practices to optimise chick welfare, both in commercial hatcheries as well as on-farm hatching. Finally, the chapter assesses rearing practices to optimize pullet welfare, including the importance of enrichment in, for example, in reducing the risk of developing injurious pecking behaviours, reducing risk of injury by improving spatial and navigation skills, as well as reducing feelings of fear and stress.