Farm Animals

Chicken Transport to Slaughter: A Critical Welfare Period

The transport of broiler chickens to slaughter is associated with high mortality, injury, and extreme stress, representing a critical welfare point in the production chain.

Key Facts

Transport mortality in broiler chickens can reach 0.1% — representing millions of deaths globally
Chickens are typically transported without food or water for up to 12 hours
Catching by mechanical harvester or by hand causes wing fractures and injuries
Temperature stress during transport is a leading cause of transport mortality
Studies show cortisol spikes during catching and loading represent significant acute stress

Welfare Considerations

The catching, crating, transport, and unloading of broiler chickens at slaughter age represents one of the most welfare-significant events in their short lives. Physical injury during catching, thermal stress during transport, and fear responses throughout the process cause measurable suffering. Improvements in catching training, transport conditions, and journey time limits can meaningfully reduce this suffering.

What You Can Do

Support transport welfare regulations including maximum journey time limits
Choose chicken from farms where mechanical catching is prohibited
Advocate for CCTV requirements at poultry catching and transport operations
Support research into improved catching methods and welfare assessment tools
Engage with food businesses about poultry transport welfare standards