To lift and carry chickens by their legs

That's appalling. Nobody with an ounce of decency would pick up a cat or a rabbit by its legs so why is a bird any different?
A nation of animal lovers? Not this government, that's for sure. A pity it can't be arranged for a few politicians to be picked up and carried this way a few times before the legislation goes through. They might then think twice before heading for the 'aye' lobby.

Where did you see or read this particular news article ?considering all the things that are going on in the world. Also , what about the cows, pigs and sheep. Then of course the numerous fish that are ate?

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/labour-faces-legal-scrutiny-allowing-chickens-carried-legs

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/776/made

The life of a mass-reared chicken is miserable anyway as Open Cages have often reported on.

opencages.org/investigations

It’s all about numbers, speed of fattening and transporting. Faster to pick up a chicken by its legs than its body.

Note what it says in the Guardian article:

The government’s response to the consultation recognised that “there is much evidence to suggest that upright catching by the body is the optimum handling method to directly minimise welfare harms”. However, it said a transition to upright catching may not be feasible in commercial settings, citing cost implications as one reason.

If meat eaters want kinder treament for animals they need to be prepared to pay more for their food. There is a reason why chicken is the cheapest meat and that’s the cruelty inflicted on these poor creatures throughout their very short lives.

That is awful! There is no reason to illtreat a chicken and there should not only be rules on this but also un-noted visits to the facilities where they're kept.

PaynesGrey

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/labour-faces-legal-scrutiny-allowing-chickens-carried-legs

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/776/made

The life of a mass-reared chicken is miserable anyway as Open Cages have often reported on.

opencages.org/investigations

It’s all about numbers, speed of fattening and transporting. Faster to pick up a chicken by its legs than its body.

Note what it says in the Guardian article:

The government’s response to the consultation recognised that “there is much evidence to suggest that upright catching by the body is the optimum handling method to directly minimise welfare harms”. However, it said a transition to upright catching may not be feasible in commercial settings, citing cost implications as one reason.

If meat eaters want kinder treament for animals they need to be prepared to pay more for their food. There is a reason why chicken is the cheapest meat and that’s the cruelty inflicted on these poor creatures throughout their very short lives.

PaynesGrey is correct that truly welfare foods are more expensive. At the present time people on very low incomes eat the sort of chicken meat that is imported from countries with no animal welfare standards at all.

The basic living wage really is necessary if we are to choose right living over cheapness.

Cruelty is the reason I never buy chicken.

We have 5 chickens at home. If we need to pick them up they are wrapped in a towel and gathered up into our arms.
I never realised how amusing chickens could be. I don't hold with cruelty of any animal or bird. However, my chicken is called Paxo, just to keep her on her toes.

Sarnis 🤣🤣

Caleo

Cruelty is the reason I never buy chicken.

It's the reason I don't eat red meat!

It may be against EU law but I'm sure I've seen rural market shoppers in France a few years ago carry chickens by the legs, presumably on the way home to the pot.

I don't eat meat or fish but I worry about the dairy produce and eggs that I do eat.

I'm afraid that man has always been cruel to animals .
One thing which upsets me regularly is the way that people carry dogs .
They don't support their legs underneath and it causes pain to their abdomens .
I'll stop and ask and admire their animals and tell them .
The owners always look very surprised .

Not quite à propos but one December when I collected the turkey from the butcher and put it on the front passenger seat beside me, the car seemed to insist that I do up the seat belt!

Grantanow

It may be against EU law but I'm sure I've seen rural market shoppers in France a few years ago carry chickens by the legs, presumably on the way home to the pot.

I’ve seen it this year as well because it’s still happening in France.
My French friends used to joke that only the UK actually obeyed EU laws.

The regulations as revised:

In the case of birds of the species Gallus gallus [chickens], and turkeys weighing 5kg or less, it is prohibited to catch, lift or carry any such bird by taking hold of or holding its legs unless both of its legs are taken hold of or held at the same time.

In the case of turkeys weighing more than 5kg, it is prohibited to lift or carry any such bird in an inverted position, whether by holding the bird by the legs or otherwise.”

So at least, heavier birds are protected from this cruelty - until they are slaughtered anyway.

So at least, heavier birds are protected from this cruelty - until they are slaughtered anyway

Protected, yes, when the market stall holders, and those who buy from them are caught ignoring the law.

Magenta8

I don't eat meat or fish but I worry about the dairy produce and eggs that I do eat.

Same here Magenta. For a year or so I switched to Oatly but went back to milk some months ago. I have just begun to use Flora Original . I hope I can keep it up.

The best I do is not eat flesh . And I buy Happy Eggs and hope what the suppliers say is true.

Unfortunately dog and cat food is one of the worst offenders.

The various meat and dairy industries are positively evil in their levels of cruelty and yet we are still advertised at as if they were all happy and lovingly cared for down on the farm. They are not. This further cruel step for chickens is horrendous. They are bred to plump up way beyond what their legs can carry and often just collapse and get trodden into and suffocate in the excrement which is thick the floors of the vast areas they are bred in. They are so tightly packed in that they can hardly move. Their beaks are burned off at birth so they can’t peck each other.
Why do people think chicken is so cheap? Not much cheap cheap from the birds! I would feel ill if I ate it, knowing the history of its life

Sarnia

We have 5 chickens at home. If we need to pick them up they are wrapped in a towel and gathered up into our arms.
I never realised how amusing chickens could be. I don't hold with cruelty of any animal or bird. However, my chicken is called Paxo, just to keep her on her toes.

Paxo - love that!

I live in a town with a chicken processing plant. To see live chickens crammed into plastic boxes and driven in huge lorries to their destination, particularly in the sweltering summer heat was the reason I gave up meat altogether some years ago. I couldn't bear the thought of eating an animal knowing it's 'lived' such a miserable life and endured a miserable and cruel death.

I'm another that thinks it's always been legal in the UK to pick up chickens by their legs. Not ideal, but the way our large chicken processing plants are designed.
If you want better welfare, then be prepared to pay the premium for this.
It's not anything to do with what party is in power.

It is isn't cruel to pick chickens up by both legs - I have 8 egg laying chickens at home and when I go to choose new chickens they are usually picked up by their legs as it is easier to carry two chickens that way. Doesn't seem to worry them at all, I would never eat chicken unless it was free range and organic. Likewise I buy meat from my local butcher and the beef comes from his farm and the lamb from another local farm. Marks and Spencer claim their pork is 'outdoor bred' and reared in 'airy barn' - there is certainly air in the barn or the pigs would die but they are crammed in to them - make sure you buy free range pork. Buy meat from butchers and not supermarkets.

When DD was at agricultural college, they were taught to lift piglets by their hind leg to weigh them. You need to be as far from the head end as possible as they bite hard. I don’t know if this is still normal practice.

shoppinggirl

I live in a town with a chicken processing plant. To see live chickens crammed into plastic boxes and driven in huge lorries to their destination, particularly in the sweltering summer heat was the reason I gave up meat altogether some years ago. I couldn't bear the thought of eating an animal knowing it's 'lived' such a miserable life and endured a miserable and cruel death.

Long distance transport of live animals is perhaps the worst of the meat industry. Local slaughter houses are best for animals who are bred to be eaten . Local slaughtering within one mile of where the animals are fattened would add to the price the customer pays.

I am glad to read a post from someone else with a conscience.