The method used to stun poultry before slaughter significantly affects welfare, with debate ongoing about waterbath electrical stunning versus controlled atmosphere killing.
Birds that enter the waterbath without being stunned, or with inadequate stunning, may be conscious during neck cutting. Waterbath stunning requires hanging birds upside down while conscious before entry, causing significant stress. Controlled atmosphere systems avoid live handling while conscious but expose birds to potentially aversive gas concentrations during the induction phase depending on the gas mixture used. Religious pre-slaughter welfare involves complex considerations between animal welfare science and religious freedom.