Farm Animals

Poultry Welfare and Controlled Atmosphere Stunning

Pre-slaughter stunning methods for poultry significantly impact the welfare of billions of birds annually.

Key Facts

Over 70 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat globally each year, making slaughter welfare critically important
Traditional water bath electrical stunning is unreliable and may not render all birds unconscious before slaughter
Controlled atmosphere stunning using gas renders birds insensible before any handling for slaughter
Live shackling before stunning causes significant distress and potential injury in conventional systems
Multi-phase gas stunning protocols can achieve high rates of insensibility with minimal aversiveness

Welfare Considerations

The final minutes of a commercially farmed chicken's life can involve significant welfare harms: live shackling, electrical stunning failures, and conscious entry into scalding tanks. Controlled atmosphere stunning — where birds are rendered insensible in their transport containers using gas — eliminates live-shackling stress and provides more reliable insensibility. Consumer and retailer pressure for improved slaughter standards has driven meaningful industry change.

What You Can Do

Support retailers and brands that require controlled atmosphere stunning for poultry suppliers
Advocate for mandatory pre-slaughter stunning requirements and regular auditing
Reduce or eliminate poultry consumption to reduce demand from industrial slaughter systems
Support organizations campaigning for improved poultry slaughter standards
Learn about the RSPCA Better Chicken Commitment and similar standards