Broiler Catching and Handling: Welfare at Farm Exit

The catching and loading of broiler chickens at farm exit is one of the highest welfare-risk moments in commercial poultry production, requiring urgent standardization.

Key Facts

Approximately 70 billion broiler chickens are caught and transported annually worldwide
Manual catching involves workers grabbing multiple birds by the legs in rapid succession
Fracture rates during catching range from 2-5% of birds in documented studies
Automated catching machines reduce human handling but require careful speed calibration to minimize injury
Darkness during catching reduces stress - crews typically work at night or in darkened houses

Welfare Considerations

The catching process occurs after 5-7 weeks of growth in which broilers have developed poor skeletal strength relative to their muscle mass. Inverted transportation by legs places stress on hip joints already compromised by rapid growth. Wing fractures from handler grip impact and leg fractures from mechanical catching are documented at significant prevalence. Catching team training, reduced catching speeds, and improved ventilation in transport crates are evidence-based welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that include catching and loading welfare standards
Advocate for mandatory injury monitoring at slaughter to detect farm-level catching problems
Choose broiler products from slower-growing breeds with better skeletal integrity
Back research into automated catching system design improvements