Farm Animals

Chicken Pre-Slaughter Lairage Welfare

The lairage period before slaughter is a significant welfare risk for chickens through overcrowding, temperature extremes, and prolonged feed and water withdrawal.

Key Facts

Chickens may be held without food for 8-12 hours before slaughter including catching and transport
Fasting causes hunger, metabolic stress, and welfare compromise in broilers
EU regulations limit lairage time but enforcement is inconsistent
Stunning at lairage entry would prevent awareness during shackling but is not standard practice
Temperature maintenance in lairage is critical as chickens cannot thermoregulate efficiently

Welfare Considerations

Pre-slaughter lairage represents the final welfare challenge for broilers after a life in production. Minimising fasting time, maintaining appropriate temperatures, and ensuring effective stunning before shackling are the most important welfare priorities in this phase.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes monitoring pre-slaughter fasting and lairage conditions
Advocate for maximum fasting time limits in poultry welfare legislation
Choose producers demonstrating commitment to pre-slaughter welfare standards
Learn about the full slaughter welfare journey to make informed certification choices