The catching and loading of broiler chickens before slaughter causes acute injuries and stress to millions of birds daily.
Pre-slaughter handling is a critical but often overlooked welfare point in poultry production. The process of catching, crating, transporting, and unloading chickens at slaughter involves acute physical stress, injury, and exposure to unfamiliar environments. Catching teams working quickly in dusty, crowded sheds often cause wing and leg injuries through rough handling. Better training, mechanical assistance, and slower-growing birds that are more robust can reduce harm substantially.