Chicken Transport, New Holland, PA 6/1/11

Animals’ Angels investigators monitored chicken transport trucks driving through New Holland to deliver chickens at the local slaughter plant owned by a well known national chain. Despite the fact that temperatures rose to 91 degrees that day, trucks were observed delivering birds to the plant during the hot midday hours. The transport trailers contained 3 rows of cages with 10 cages stacked on top of each other. Many of the chickens observed had no feathers left on their rear end. Several birds showed signs of heat stress such as panting and open mouth breathing. Some legs, wings and necks were caught between the cage bars.