The loading of poultry into transport crates is one of the highest welfare-risk moments in commercial poultry production - handling and crate design significantly affect outcomes.
Poultry loading welfare is a high-frequency, high-harm event in commercial production. Every broiler reaching slaughter has been caught, carried, and crated - with injury and stress at each stage. Mechanical loading systems reduce some direct injuries but create different welfare concerns. The pre-loading feed withdrawal period required to reduce gut content for food safety reasons causes unnecessary hunger and thirst that welfare science suggests should be minimised. Better crate design, reduced loading density, and slower, more careful manual catching all reduce welfare harm at this critical stage.