The catching and transport of broiler chickens for slaughter is among the most acute welfare events in commercial poultry production, affecting billions of birds annually.
Broiler chickens at harvest experience acute welfare harms across the entire catching, transport, and slaughter process. Catching by untrained workers in rushed conditions causes injuries including dislocated hips and broken wings. Upside-down transport in crates causes discomfort and can restrict breathing. Live-shackling at slaughter lines stresses and injures birds before stunning. Inadequate stunning means some birds experience slaughter conscious. The scale of this welfare harm, affecting billions of birds annually, makes it one of the highest-priority targets for improvement.