Pre-slaughter stunning methods for commercial poultry vary in effectiveness and welfare implications requiring continuous improvement.
Water bath stunning requires birds to be shackled inverted causing distress before the stun. Electrical stun failures mean some birds enter the scald tank conscious. Controlled atmosphere killing using inert gases is considered more humane as birds lose consciousness before being handled. Transitioning to controlled atmosphere killing and implementing CCTV monitoring are the primary current welfare improvements available.