Transport Stress in Commercial Poultry

The transport of broiler chickens and laying hens to slaughter is a high-risk welfare window with specific, manageable problems.

Key Facts

Approximately 1 billion chickens are transported to slaughter in the UK annually
Catching and crating causes acute stress with measurable cortisol elevation
Journey times under 2 hours show significantly better welfare outcomes than longer journeys
Thermal stress during loading, transport, and unloading causes mortality in hot weather
Broiler catching machines (mechanical catchers) cause equivalent stress to hand catching but reduce injury

Welfare Considerations

Poultry transport concentrates multiple stressors into a short, unavoidable welfare window. Catching — whether by hand or machine — causes immediate fear and injury. Crating at high density raises temperature. Journey times accumulate thermal and physical stress. Unloading repeats the disturbance. Each stage has identifiable welfare interventions: better catching training, appropriate stocking density in transport crates, journey time limits, and temperature monitoring. The welfare improvement available through better transport management is substantial and achievable without capital investment.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards that include specific transport welfare requirements
Advocate for mandatory temperature monitoring in poultry transport vehicles
Choose poultry from supply chains with documented short transport times
Support research into lower-stress catching and handling methods for poultry
Learn about poultry transport welfare as part of broader supply chain transparency efforts