Over the past few weeks, Eyes on Animals visited several dozen poultry farms across the Netherlands to talk about our project promoting the upright catching of chickens (instead of carrying them upside down by their legs) and about more humane ways to kill sick and injured birds. These are not always easy topics to discuss, but they are important ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time, we decided to take a different approach. Instead of arranging meetings in advance, we simply knocked on farmers‘ doors, carrying information leaflets<\/a> and a letter introducing our projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was exciting, not only for us, but also for the farmers. Yet initial hesitation often gave way to open, honest and constructive conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We visited a wide variety of farms. At first, we focused mainly on organic farms, farms producing under the Dutch Beter Leven<\/em> animal welfare label, and smaller mobile poultry houses. As the project progressed, however, we also decided to visit more conventional poultry farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As certified chicken catchers ourselves, we offered to return free of charge when the farmers‘ next flock is caught, so we can help catch the birds using the upright method alongside the regular catching team. One of the concerns we hear most often is that upright catching takes more time. By helping as an extra catching team, we hope to remove that barrier. After all, the only way to fairly evaluate a different working method is to experience it in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch a video of these visits below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n