Catching and loading broiler chickens for transport is a high-risk welfare moment. Catcher training, mechanical aids and monitoring reduce injuries significantly.
The catching process is one of the highest-density welfare risk moments in broiler production. Workers under time pressure in dark sheds handle many thousands of birds per hour. Birds experience acute fear, pain from inversion and physical injury. Training for catchers in low-stress handling techniques - single-leg carry, calm movements - reduces injury rates. Automatic harvesting systems that guide birds into containers rather than invert them offer the best welfare outcomes, though capital costs are significant.