This consultation ended 2 May 2025.
Reviewing responses
The responses to this consultation are currently being reviewed. Details of the outcome will be published here in due course.
Original consultation
We want your views on proposed changes to how you are allowed to catch (lift and carry) laying hens and meat chickens for transport.
Consultation description
We are consulting on how to legally catch chickens when loading and unloading for transport as part of commercial activities.
We’re proposing to make the law clearer so that you can catch chickens by two legs. This is in line with established welfare guidance.
We also want to gather more information on:
- how long it takes to catch chickens using different methods in different housing systems
- how turkeys are currently caught and lifted
- how to gather data to understand the links between catching methods, the number of people in a catching team, and animal welfare
The consultation is led by DEFRA and held jointly between the UK, Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ and Scottish governments.
This consultation is being held on