Farm Animals

Farmed Broiler Chicken Catching and Loading Welfare

The catching and loading of broiler chickens for transport to slaughter is a significant welfare risk period causing injuries and acute fear.

Key Facts

Approximately 10% of bird injuries at slaughter originate from the catching process
Manual catching by multiple legs simultaneously causes wing fractures and haemorrhages
Automated catching machines reduce some manual handling injuries but introduce others
Night catching reduces fear responses compared with daytime operations
Transport container design affects injury rates during loading and transit

Welfare Considerations

The catching process represents one of the most acutely stressful and physically dangerous periods in a broiler chicken's life. Training catching crews in bird-friendly handling techniques and monitoring injury rates at slaughter plants provides accountability and drives improvement in this largely invisible welfare risk.

What You Can Do

Support welfare auditing that monitors catching and slaughter injury rates
Advocate for catching crew training standards in welfare regulations
Choose chicken from producers with documented catching and transport welfare protocols