Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality activists have rescued three 'broiler' chickens from a poultry slaughterhouse in Madrid (Spain)


At around midnight of March, 12nd, three Animal Equality activists went into a poultry slaughterhouse as part of an ongoing investigation into slaughterhouses which the organisation is carrying out within Spain.

Once inside, we saw three birds that were lying immobile at the side of a transportation cage, then empty, near the shackles of the 'kill line'. Although at first sight they seemed to be dead, we soon saw that one of them was making an effort to try to lift itself, and after examining another two and finding that they were also still alive, we decided to take them with us.

The birds were taken to a veterinarian to treat the multiple injuries they were suffering from. One of them, Virgil, had two wing bones protruding with compound fractures and one dislocated limb, while another, Allen, had a compound fracture of one wing and several hematomas in the other. The third, Donald, had a respiratory infection – almost certainly as a result of having to live in a shed filled with ammonia fumes from the excrement and urine of the other chickens – and in addition displayed multiple hematomas in his wing joints, again almost certainly due to the way in which he was packed into the transportation cage en route to the slaughterhouse.

Virgil was euthanised while under anesthesia for the surgery he received to try and save him. During the veterinary procedure, it was discovered that the terrible condition he was in would not allow him to live a minimum quality of life.

Donald has died due to the respiratory problems and infections that he suffered in spite of the veterinary treatment he received. He enjoyed lying on the grass under the sun, next to his companion Allen, who had endured the same life as Donald since his birth, and they leaned against each other while they rested.

The chicken we have decided to call Allen has been operated on. The part of the bone exposed to the air has been removed and he is now under veterinary care and recuperating. Allen is now in a suitable environment where for the first time in his life he can feel the sun on his body and can relax in peace, being looked after by his responsible vegan carers.

We regret their deaths and try to remember that Virgil was at least able to die without suffering and without anyone benefitting from his exploitation, and that Donald was able to rest and sleep peacefully under the sun during the last few days of his life.

Although 'broiler' chickens can live for ten years, before they are even two months old they reach the weight that is considered profitable for their exploitation and they are sent for slaughter. Their rapid growth is due to various factors, such as the type of feed they receive, manipulation of the light cycles in the sheds, and intense genetic selection of the birds.

Breaking out of their shells, the chicks hatch twenty-one days after their mothers have laid a fertilised egg. The mothers are never able to incubate them as any bird would naturally do. The egg is taken away together with the others to a temperature-controlled room where they remain for three weeks until they hatch, when they will be separated from the shells and placed in boxes with thousands of other tiny chicks to be transported to the broiler farm.

Broiler farms consist of sheds in which tens of thousands of chickens live on floors formed of straw mixed with their own excrement and urine. The constant exposure to irritants such as ammonia causes serious irritation to the chickens' bodies as well as respiratory problems. The short lives of these animals occurs during perpetual daylight as the exploiters manipulate their daily cycles, keeping the lights on in the sheds twenty-four hours a day, causing the birds to eat more than they normally would. The feed is specially formulated to make them grow as fast as possible, in spite of the fact that this causes serious health problems, from organ damage such as in the liver to joint problems due to the excessive weight they are forced to carry. It is usual to find a large percentage of birds that can barely walk.

When the moment comes to send them to slaughter, the workers grab them by their feet and pack them into metal crates. This process often results in dislocated limbs, broken bones, hematomas etc.

Once they arrive at the slaughterhouse, where the line speed normally runs at a rate of 180 birds killed per minute, the chickens are hung head down in metal shackles on a moving 'kill line' that will take them to a a stun bath, where their heads are submerged in electrified water. This electric current immobilizes the birds – making it easier to cut their throats later – and supposedly leaves them unconscious, although this depends on many factors – principally the strength of the electrical current – and in reality on many occasions they are still conscious when they have their throats slit. An automatic knife cuts their throat, and they are left bleeding for several minutes until they die.

This is the sad reality that, every day, millions of birds have to suffer until they are converted into food products. It is very difficult to describe the suffering that these animals are forced to endure daily, confined and exploited by humans. However, it is essential that we try to put ourselves in their place and imagine the victims of our eating habits. We have alternative ways to feed ourselves without taking part in the suffering and deaths of animals.

For justice and solidarity with the other animals with whom we share the planet, remember that the consumption of animal products means that there will be victims, individuals with their own lives, sentient beings with their own interests, for whom deciding to eat flesh or other animal products means violating their rights and taking away everything they have. For their sake, go vegan.



The name Donald refers to the pioneer of veganism, Donald Watson, while Allen is named after the late animal activist Gari Allen, and Virgil refers to the ex-poultry slaughterhouse worker turned vegan activist, Virgil Butler.

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