Ending Illegal Handling Practices for Chickens

We are calling on Defra to update the Codes of Practice now.

In the realm of animal welfare, our responsibility to safeguard the dignity and well-being of all creatures is paramount. Yet, one distressing reality persists: the illegal and inhumane practice of handling chickens by their legs. Despite existing legislation such as The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006, which explicitly prohibits this harmful practice, there exists a troubling gap between law and implementation.

The current government's codes of practice for chickens bred for meat and eggs, explicitly mention handling chickens by their legs. This not only contradicts existing legislation but also raises serious ethical questions regarding the treatment of these animals.

A recent investigation by Animal Justice Project sheds light on the realities faced by chickens during transportation and handling. Distressing footage reveals chickens being grabbed by their legs, held upside down, and stuffed into crates, causing unnecessary physical harm and stress to the chickens.

This practice can also cause serious harm to chickens including:

• Difficulty breathing due to the lack of a diaphragm to keep their organs away from their lungs

• Fractures

• Broken bones

• Bruising

Rather than address the legal breaches, The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) proposed a change to the law to accommodate the common practice of carrying chickens by their legs.

Serena Conforti, Advocacy and Communications Officer at The Animal Law Foundation:

“The AWC’s recommendation is the first open suggestion of removing an EU animal welfare protection since the UK left the EU in 2020, this is despite the fact the government not only made promises not to dilute standards, it claimed that the UK would use its freedom to improve welfare standards The current illegal and inhumane handling of chickens in the UK is a stark reminder of the need to prioritise animal welfare in our society.”

In light of these developments, we have taken proactive steps by sending a legal letter to the UK Government, urging for updated codes of practice for chickens. It's imperative to make it unequivocally clear that picking chickens up by the legs is not permissible under any circumstances. This is a crucial step towards ensuring that the welfare of these animals is prioritised and protected.

Upholding animal welfare isn't just a moral imperative—it's a reflection of our values as a society committed to compassion and justice for all beings.