Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Catching Machines Welfare

Mechanical catching machines used to collect broiler chickens before slaughter can reduce or exacerbate welfare impacts compared to manual catching, depending on design and operation.

Key Facts

Broiler catching involves rounding up and loading tens of thousands of birds per house in hours
Manual catching involves carrying birds upside down, causing wing and leg injuries
Mechanical harvesters have mixed welfare records: some reduce injuries, others cause more
Night catching in dim light reduces flightiness and improves welfare outcomes
Training and supervision of catching crews is critical regardless of method

Welfare Considerations

Catching is one of the most stressful and injury-prone moments in a broiler's life; investment in better catching systems and training meaningfully reduces end-of-life suffering.

What You Can Do

Support broiler welfare standards that include catching and transport requirements
Advocate for third-party monitoring of catching operations
Choose chicken from producers with verified catching welfare standards