Meat chickens take many weeks to grow, and much time and effort to keep them healthy until the day they become food. Mistakes on that last day can reduce meat quality and value.
Chickens can be damaged by rough handling when picked up for loading, by being pushed into boxes with an opening that is too small, or by being crowded so that they trample and suffocate each other, or peck each other until they draw blood. All this can be prevented if transport methods are appropriate for the size of the birds.
Plastic chicken crates with a sliding door near the middle of the top are lightweight, easy to clean, well ventilated and available for rent or purchase from Foxglove Farm and Garden Supplies. They can easily be stacked, and can help you count your chickens if you always load the same number to a crate. Many people have made their own wooden boxes that have all these features, but they are usually larger and heavier than the plastic ones and are not as easy to clean.
Some of the chickens received at the abattoir have been in tiptop health, clean and gently handled, with every one in a large batch arriving safely and passing inspection. Others have had an uncomfortable last day, exposed to wind and rain en route and looking very bedraggled and muddy on arrival. Many cages have broken fastenings or an opening that is impossible for one person to operate. Judging by the volume of droppings in the cages it is clear that some owners forget to remove feed on the last day. The abattoir has a covered area for chicken crates but not for trailers or pickup loads, so it is up to you to provide adequate shelter on the road and for the short wait after arrival if you are not using crates. Chicken size may also affect meat quality as very big chickens are too large for the chicken cones and too small for the turkey ones, so are much more difficult to slaughter without damage. The same applies to turkeys too large for the extra large turkey cone, which is why the abattoir staff prefer turkeys that weigh less than 30 lbs live.