Farm Animals

Poultry Slaughter Welfare Standards

The slaughter of chickens and turkeys involves welfare challenges at each stage including catching, transport, shackling, and stunning.

Key Facts

9 billion chickens are slaughtered annually in the United States
Gas stunning methods cause less pre-slaughter suffering than electrical water bath methods
Shackling live birds causes pain and distress at current line speeds
Controlled atmosphere stunning is increasingly adopted by welfare-leading companies
Transport to slaughter kills millions of birds annually from heat, cold, and injuries

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter handling causes significant suffering to billions of birds annually. High line speeds prevent adequate welfare monitoring. Controlled atmosphere stunning eliminates the shackling phase that causes most distress. Consumer pressure on major brands has driven meaningful improvements in slaughter standards over the past decade.

What You Can Do

Support companies committed to controlled atmosphere stunning
Advocate for reduced line speeds and improved welfare monitoring
Choose chicken from higher welfare certified producers
Engage with campaigns targeting major fast food chicken welfare
Reduce poultry consumption or choose plant-based alternatives