The chickens arrive at the slaughterhouse as early as 1 a.m. They travel 18 to 24 birds per crate, with as many as 6,000 birds on a single trailer. By now, the birds have not been fed for eight hours to prevent fecal contamination. They do receive water. They usually are kept in crates for an hour before the trailers are unloaded. The crated birds move by conveyor belt to a quiet, darkened room. (3 of 14)

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