Approximately 70 billion chickens are slaughtered annually worldwide. Most undergo manual or mechanical catching before loading for transport. The catching process is brief — typically 2-4 hours per flock — but affects every single bird and represents a critical welfare bottleneck.
Manual catching by leg carrying (inverting by one or both legs) causes pain from joint hyperextension and is associated with wing and leg injuries. Research by Grandin, Weeks, and others documents dislocation rates of 1-3% and significant cortisol elevation during catching. Fear responses include wing flapping, escape attempts, and vocalizations.
Catchers work in low-light, dusty, hot conditions for extended shifts. Studies show that tired catchers at end of shift show increased rough handling and injury rates. Welfare improvements must address working conditions alongside technique training.
Harvesting machines that use rotating rubber fingers to collect birds are widely used in large-scale operations. Welfare outcomes depend critically on machine design, speed settings, and operator skill. Some machines show lower injury rates than manual catching; others are comparable or worse.
Rendering birds unconscious with CO2/nitrogen in the shed before catching eliminates fear and pain during handling. Agas stunning (Innovad system) is a commercially available approach. Welfare benefit is significant but uptake is limited by cost and infrastructure requirements.
Catching teams that identify and handle compromised birds differently (separate transport, additional care) reduce mortality in transport. Pre-catch flock assessment identifies birds likely to deteriorate. Reducing density in catching crates for compromised flocks is an evidence-based welfare intervention.