Farm Animals

Avian Influenza and Poultry Welfare

Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks require mass culling of infected flocks, causing acute suffering to millions of birds, while high-density housing facilitates rapid spread.

Key Facts

HPAI H5N1 has resulted in the culling of over 500 million poultry globally since 2020
Culling methods including ventilation shutdown — shutting off airflow to cause heat death — are highly contested on welfare grounds
High-density poultry farming amplifies avian influenza transmission between birds and potentially to humans
Welfare-friendly culling methods including CO2 gassing are available but not universally required

Welfare Considerations

Avian influenza culling causes immense acute suffering: ventilation shutdown — condemned as cruel by veterinary bodies — heats birds to death over 15-60 minutes. Even birds culled by approved methods experience distress during handling. Reducing flock density through welfare-improving housing simultaneously reduces disease amplification and the scale of inevitable culling events.

What You Can Do

Advocate for prohibition of ventilation shutdown as a poultry culling method
Support legislation requiring welfare-approved culling methods in avian influenza response
Choose poultry from lower-density farms that reduce HPAI transmission risk
Support research into HPAI vaccines for poultry that could reduce culling necessity
Advocate for emergency culling welfare standards to be included in national HPAI response plans