Manual catching and crating of broiler chickens for transport to slaughter is among the most acutely stressful events in the bird lifetime, with injury rates and handling stress that are well-documented but poorly regulated.
The catching event is the most acute welfare insult in the life of a broiler chicken — a bird that has never been handled suddenly experiences chasing, capture, inversion, and crating in rapid succession. The injury rate reflects the urgency of the commercial catching operation, where dozens of birds must be crated per minute. Night catching with dimmed lighting substantially reduces injuries and stress responses, demonstrating that welfare and efficiency are compatible when management is adjusted.