Poultry Catching and Handling Welfare

The catching and handling of broiler chickens before transport and slaughter is one of the most acute welfare risks in poultry production, with manual catching causing significant injury and distress.

Key Facts

Broiler catching involves catching and carrying birds by their legs, causing wing, leg, and joint injuries
An estimated 20-40% of broiler birds have pre-slaughter injuries in conventional catching operations
Mechanical catching machines can reduce catching injuries when properly designed and operated
Night catching under reduced lighting reduces bird fear responses during the procedure

Welfare Considerations

Catching and loading poultry is a welfare emergency point: the concentrated, intense handling required to move many thousands of birds causes both acute fear and physical injury at high rates. Workers under time pressure handling large numbers of birds inevitably cause injury. Training, supervision, welfare targets, and mechanical assistance can all reduce injury rates. Catching welfare is a point where retailer sourcing requirements can drive improvement, since catching operations are a visible welfare risk that audit can assess.

What You Can Do

Support poultry certification schemes that include catching welfare requirements
Advocate for mechanical catching machines as a standard requirement in large broiler facilities
Engage with food retailers to require catching welfare audits in their poultry supply chains
Support training requirements for poultry catchers on handling technique and welfare