The catching and crating of broiler chickens before transport to slaughter is one of the highest-injury and highest-stress periods in broiler welfare, with wing fractures and dislocations common in manual catching operations.
Poultry catching welfare represents a concentrated welfare event at the end of broiler life where production incentives most directly conflict with welfare outcomes. Workers paid by volume have incentives to catch quickly; quick catching under typical conditions means more rough handling and more fractures. Fractures in birds destined for slaughter within hours may seem a minor welfare concern, but wing fractures cause significant acute pain and birds may live injured for several hours before death. Automated catching systems reduce fracture rates significantly when properly deployed. Consumer welfare certifications that include handling standards for the pre-slaughter period close the welfare gap between the farm and the end of life.