Farm Animals

Broiler Chicken Welfare at Slaughter

The slaughter process for broiler chickens involves multiple welfare risks that require robust protocols and monitoring to minimize suffering.

Key Facts

Over 60 billion broiler chickens are slaughtered globally each year
Conventional electrical water bath stunning may not reliably stun all birds
Controlled atmosphere killing using inert gases is considered more humane
Catching, transport, and lairage before slaughter cause significant stress
Higher line speeds increase welfare risks through inadequate stunning

Welfare Considerations

The final hours of a broiler chicken's life present significant welfare risks. Improving stunning reliability and reducing handling stress are critical areas for improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose poultry products from farms using higher welfare slaughter methods
Support higher welfare certification schemes that include slaughter standards
Advocate for mandatory stunning verification and welfare monitoring at slaughter