An animal rights group wants a memorial erected at a site in northern New South Wales where a truck carrying 6,000 chickens crashed on Monday.

It has been estimated that about half the birds died as a result of the accident on the Bruxner Highway, near Lismore on the state's north coast.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokeswoman Laura Weyman-Jones said the group had approached the Roads and Maritime Service about a possible tribute.

"We hope our memorial will help prevent future transport accidents, but also will help remind everyone that no animal wants to die a violent, painful death, whether it's on the road or at the slaughterhouse," she said.

"This is what happens every day around Australia. There are hundreds of thousands of animals that lose their lives for the unnecessary meat and dairy and egg industries.

"Contrary to popular opinion, we don't need meat to survive at all, and in fact it's actually better for our health not to eat meat, and better for the environment and obviously better for the animals.

"All we're asking for is a memorial, and we're asking for kindness and respect for animals."

Sugarshine Feminist Animal Rescue Mission Sanctuary co-owner Kelly Nelder attended the crash site and said it had been a horrific scene.

"There were a lot of dead chickens right near the scene," she said on Monday.

The crash happened on the Bruxner Highway at Goonellabah just before 7:00am on Monday. ( Supplied: Sugarshine FARM Sanctuary )

"It was certainly distressing to see all of these animals. Some had had their heads cut off in the incident.

"There were chickens flapping around obviously in pain."

The broiler chickens had been on their way to the Darwalla abattoir at Mount Cotton in Brisbane for processing.

The Darwalla Group declined to speak to the media, but confirmed it had started an internal investigation into the incident.

The ABC is seeking a response from the Roads and Maritime Service about the possible memorial.