Transport is one of the most welfare-critical stages in poultry production, causing stress, injury, and mortality in millions of birds.
Poultry transport welfare encompasses two distinct welfare events: the catching and loading process, and the journey itself. Manual catching — where workers grab birds by one leg in darkened sheds and carry multiple birds at once — causes pain, fear, and injury. The journey in densely packed crates without food or water for up to 12 hours causes dehydration, thermal stress, and social aggression. Because broiler chickens have already been compromised by rapid growth — with weakened legs and cardiovascular systems — they tolerate transport stress particularly poorly. Welfare improvements including slower catching, better crate design, journey time limits, and ventilation standards are available but inconsistently implemented.