Poultry Stunning Methods and Welfare

Effective stunning before slaughter is critical for poultry welfare, and the choice of stunning method has significant implications for welfare outcomes at scale.

Key Facts

Water bath electrostunning is the most widely used method in conventional poultry slaughter
Controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) using CO2 or gas mixtures is an alternative to electrical stunning
Water bath systems can cause pre-stun shocks and wing flapping causing injuries
High concentration CO2 causes aversion and distress before unconsciousness
Low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS) shows promise as a low-distress alternative

Welfare Considerations

Slaughter is the point of highest welfare risk in poultry production. Pre-stun shocks in water bath systems cause pain before unconsciousness. Live shackling is highly stressful for birds. Failures to achieve effective stunning result in birds regaining consciousness and entering scalding tanks. Controlled atmosphere systems eliminate live handling and shackling but CO2 causes its own aversive response. Research continues into optimising gas mixtures and alternative methods.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory Controlled Atmosphere Killing over water bath systems
Choose poultry certified under schemes requiring higher stunning standards
Advocate for slaughterhouse CCTV requirements that include stunning areas
Support research into lower-distress pre-slaughter systems
Reduce poultry consumption or transition to plant-based alternatives