This past weekend, Eyes on Animals gave a presentation to the (poultry) transport working group of the German Veterinary Association (TVT). The enforcement policy of the NVWA regarding catching injuries was a hot topic! In the Netherlands, both the poultry farmer and the catching team are fined if more than 1% of the flock shows catching injuries (severe bleedings). This has led to a significant reduction in injuries to chickens. We hope that countries like Germany and Belgium will adopt this successful policy.
We also shared our experiences about:
- Catching chickens upright, instead of upside down by one leg
- The design of crates and containers and their huge impact on animal welfare
- The importance of good training and working conditions for poultry catchers
The working group was very motivated and asked critical questions. We hope that our contribution will lead to stricter policies and more respect during the handling of chickens.
