Chicken Handling and Animal Welfare

Chicken welfare involves much more than whether birds are indoors or outdoors. Housing conditions, flock health, temperature, access to feed and water, handling and transportation all matter.

The environment matters

Birds need an environment appropriate to their age and production system. Ventilation, temperature, litter or bedding conditions, access to water and stocking conditions can all influence welfare.

Handling should minimize unnecessary stress

Chickens are smaller and physically different from cattle or pigs, so catching, carrying, loading and transportation require poultry-specific handling practices.

Weather and transportation

Animals being transported must be managed with consideration for weather, journey conditions and fitness for transport. Canadian humane transport requirements apply to the movement of animals and are intended to reduce avoidable suffering.

Look beyond the production label

Pasture-raised or free-range may describe part of the bird’s environment, but those terms alone do not provide a complete welfare assessment.

Consumers can also ask about flock observation, shelter, predator protection, treatment of sick or injured birds and how mortality is managed.