Today we presented our experience with catching chickens to the animal welfare inspection authorities of all EU Member States. We spoke at the annual meeting of the EU network EURCAW-Poultry-SFA. Chickens are still commonly caught upside down, by one leg, with three to six birds held at a time. This method causes panic, wing flapping and attempts to escape, which often … [Read more...] about Calmer chicken catching: Eyes on Animals shares field experience with EU inspectors
Poultry-catchers
Upright catching of laying hens: sharing experiences with the Swiss poultry sector
Eyes on Animals recently gave an online presentation on laying hen catching to a broad group of Swiss stakeholders, including representatives from industry organizations, animal welfare labels, animal welfare organizations, poultry farmers and veterinary authorities. The meeting was organized by FiBL, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Switzerland, which is … [Read more...] about Upright catching of laying hens: sharing experiences with the Swiss poultry sector
Online training for Kipster farm manager in the USA
Today, Eyes on Animals provided an online training session to the manager of several Kipster laying hen barns in the USA, operated under franchise by MPS Egg Farms. As this farm manager recently started managing the Kipster houses, he plays a key role in safeguarding animal welfare during all stages of production, including during depopulation, the training focused on … [Read more...] about Online training for Kipster farm manager in the USA
Upright catching of broiler chickens introduced in Germany
Tonight, Eyes on Animals trained chicken-catchers from a catching company in Germany on the upright method of catching birds. The team consisted of eight Polish employees, so a Polish interpreter from Eyes on Animals was present to make sure that all the Polish catchers could understand well what we were teaching. The training took place at a large German broiler … [Read more...] about Upright catching of broiler chickens introduced in Germany
Training and supervision of upright catching in Germany
Today, Eyes on Animals was in Germany to conduct a training session and oversee the upright catching and loading of 3,000 laying hens. This initiative was organized at the invitation of the German Tierschutzlabel. For the poultry farmer, it was the first time that (a portion of) his hens were caught upright. This method was also new to many of the catchers. The … [Read more...] about Training and supervision of upright catching in Germany
Training presentation on chicken-catching to German chicken farmers
Today we gave a 1-hour online training presentation to 16 German poultry farmers that produce under the German animal-welfare criteria from the "Tierschutzlabel" about how to improve the way broilers and layers are caught. We covered the gentle upright method techniques. They were very interested and some already apply stricter measures when their birds are caught. We are … [Read more...] about Training presentation on chicken-catching to German chicken farmers
Upright Catching in the United States
For the first time in history, hens on a large American poultry farm have been caught and loaded according to the Eyes on Animals method - upright and not dangling upside down by one leg. This involved a poultry farm of Kipster, which also uses the upright catching method for their hens in the Netherlands. We trained the catching teams (primarily catchers from Mexico) … [Read more...] about Upright Catching in the United States
Training to Aeres school students and teachers on poultry welfare during catching and upright method
This morning we gave a presentation about the welfare of chickens during catching and the upright method of catching at Aeres MBO school in Barneveld. Afterwards there was a positive and lively discussion with students and teachers. A representativefrom Baader company (that designs and builds poultry transport containers, among other … [Read more...] about Training to Aeres school students and teachers on poultry welfare during catching and upright method
Training chicken-catchers, NL
This afternoon Eyes on Animals was asked by a large and progressive chicken- catching company to give an animal-welfare training course to their employees. The purpose was to educate their catchers on poultry behaviour, their sentience and physiology and how to catch birds keeping them upright instead of by their legs upside down. We also covered how to load the birds in … [Read more...] about Training chicken-catchers, NL
Eyes on Animals certified for humane poultry catching and loading
Today, all the members of Eyes on Animals took part in the IKB training 'Responsible Poultry Loading' at the SVO training center in Houten. This training is mandatory for all chicken catchers in the Netherlands working in the sector for more than 3 months. By completing the training and passing the exam, Eyes on Animals is now officially authorized to catch and load … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals certified for humane poultry catching and loading
