Broiler Chicken Slaughter: Welfare at the End of Life

The slaughter process for chickens involves specific welfare risks that are now well-understood and largely preventable.

Key Facts

Over 1 billion chickens are slaughtered in the UK annually
The standard process involves live hanging, electrical water bath stunning, and neck cutting
Incorrectly performed electrical stunning is a leading cause of slaughter welfare failures
Controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) using gas mixtures is increasingly advocated as a welfare improvement
Pre-stun shackling causes pain, bruising, and wing injuries in a significant proportion of birds

Welfare Considerations

Slaughter at the end of a broiler's short life represents a critical welfare window. Incorrectly applied electrical stunning can cause pain without rendering birds unconscious. Pre-stun shackling — hanging live birds upside down — causes immediate stress and frequent injuries. Controlled atmosphere killing using high-concentration CO2 or inert gases can achieve unconsciousness before any handling stress, representing a genuine welfare advance. Consumer and retailer pressure for higher-welfare slaughter methods has driven progress in some markets but implementation is uneven.

What You Can Do

Support retailers and restaurants committed to higher-welfare slaughter methods
Advocate for controlled atmosphere killing requirements in national slaughter regulations
Choose poultry with independently audited slaughter welfare standards
Support mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses and access for independent inspectors
Raise awareness of slaughter as a welfare issue within the broader farmed animal welfare debate