Catching broiler chickens before transport is one of the highest-risk welfare events in their lives, with mechanical catching systems offering significant improvements over manual handling.
Chicken catching represents a concentrated welfare risk point at the end of birds lives. Manual catching by legs causes acute pain from joint stress, and the rates of fracture and bruising documented in welfare audits are substantial. The speed of commercial catching operations — designed to minimize the time sheds are empty — creates pressure that often overrides individual care. Mechanical harvesting systems that gently consolidate birds and move them to transport containers reduce both bird injury and worker strain. Welfare-conscious producers invest in mechanical systems, certified catcher training, and night-time operations that minimize bird fear. These investments reduce both welfare harms and the economic costs of bruising-related carcass downgrades.