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What does that “American Humane Certified” label on your chicken really mean?

The answer: surprisingly little. A new Mercy For Animals undercover investigation reveals sickening cruelty to animals at Foster Farms—an American Humane Certified poultry producer—including birds scalded alive and workers throwing, punching, and tormenting chickens before violently shackling them upside down to have their throats cut open.

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Bred for Pain

Foster Farms chickens have been bred to grow so fast they often suffer painful leg deformities. Crammed into windowless sheds, their lives are filled with misery.

Thrown

At this American Humane Certified chicken factory farm, workers carelessly throw baby chicks onto the ground with no regard for their welfare.

Punched

Workers punch, beat, and torment animals before violently slamming them into metal shackles and sending them to have their throats cut open.

Scalded Alive

Birds often go through the entire slaughter process completely conscious and able to feel pain, and end up scalded alive in hot water tanks.

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Tens of thousands of chickens crammed in ammonia-filled warehouses
Severely sick and injured birds denied proper veterinary care
Birds violently shackled, shocked, and cut open while still conscious
Chickens routinely scalded alive in hot water tanks
Tens of thousands of chickens crammed in ammonia-filled warehouses
Severely sick and injured birds denied proper veterinary care
Birds violently shackled, shocked, and cut open while still conscious
Chickens routinely scalded alive in hot water tanks
Cruelty Critics
“The hanging operators are shown throwing the birds at the shackles, hanging them far too roughly and pushing them forcefully across the conveyer belt. There is no justification for this abusive treatment—it causes stress and potential injury to the birds, and is unnecessarily cruel.”Dr. Sara Shields
“The horrors depicted in this facility are among the worst I have ever encountered during my career as a veterinarian. There were workers yanking birds by their feet and thrusting them forcefully onto the live hang slaughter line, and in many cases the bodies of these birds would be seen literally bouncing off the metal framework of the line, causing completely unnecessary pain and suffering.”Dr. Armaiti May
“The callous handling of the birds in these facilities is inhumane. The suffering of the birds that are boiled alive is reprehensible, as is the crushing of numerous birds by the trucks. It is obvious that the lack of attention, care and skill of the workers is resulting in severe distress and suffering to these birds.”Dr. Lee Schrader
“Workers are seen violently slamming birds’ legs into shackles on an overcrowded slaughter line. There is no valid reason for this excessive and cruel use of force. These birds have extremely fragile legs and this type of overly rough handling can easily cause painful broken leg or wing bones, dislocations, bruising and internal injuries.”Dr. Debra Teachout
“The hanging operators are shown throwing the birds at the shackles, hanging them far too roughly and pushing them forcefully across the conveyer belt. There is no justification for this abusive treatment—it causes stress and potential injury to the birds, and is unnecessarily cruel.”Dr. Sara Shields
“The horrors depicted in this facility are among the worst I have ever encountered during my career as a veterinarian. There were workers yanking birds by their feet and thrusting them forcefully onto the live hang slaughter line, and in many cases the bodies of these birds would be seen literally bouncing off the metal framework of the line, causing completely unnecessary pain and suffering.”Dr. Armaiti May
“The callous handling of the birds in these facilities is inhumane. The suffering of the birds that are boiled alive is reprehensible, as is the crushing of numerous birds by the trucks. It is obvious that the lack of attention, care and skill of the workers is resulting in severe distress and suffering to these birds.”Dr. Lee Schrader
“Workers are seen violently slamming birds’ legs into shackles on an overcrowded slaughter line. There is no valid reason for this excessive and cruel use of force. These birds have extremely fragile legs and this type of overly rough handling can easily cause painful broken leg or wing bones, dislocations, bruising and internal injuries.”Dr. Debra Teachout
Explore the
Hidden Lives of Chickens

Bird Brains

Chickens are sensitive and intelligent animals with advanced cognitive abilities that rival those of dogs, cats, and even some primates. Studies show that chickens excel at complex mental tasks, can learn from watching each other, and are even able to pass down information from one generation to the next.

Birds of a Feather

Chickens are very social animals who can form deep and meaningful friendships with other birds. Some birds are outgoing and gregarious, while others are more shy and reserved. But all chickens put family first, giving rise to the term “mother hen” to refer to particularly protective parents.

Chatty Chicks

The communication skills of chickens are highly sophisticated and begin developing at an early age. Mother hens will cluck to their chicks while they are still in their eggs, and the unborn chicks will chirp back at them. Researchers know of at least 30 types of vocalizations that chickens make to mean very different things.

Bird Brains

Chickens are sensitive and intelligent animals with advanced cognitive abilities that rival those of dogs, cats, and even some primates. Studies show that chickens excel at complex mental tasks, can learn from watching each other, and are even able to pass down information from one generation to the next.

Birds of a Feather

Chickens are very social animals who can form deep and meaningful friendships with other birds. Some birds are outgoing and gregarious, while others are more shy and reserved. But all chickens put family first, giving rise to the term “mother hen” to refer to particularly protective parents.

Chatty Chicks

The communication skills of chickens are highly sophisticated and begin developing at an early age. Mother hens will cluck to their chicks while they are still in their eggs, and the unborn chicks will chirp back at them. Researchers know of at least 30 types of vocalizations that chickens make to mean very different things.

The best way for individual consumers to help end this cruelty is to leave animals off their plate entirely.

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