In 2023, Eyes on Animals approached Schweizer Tierschutz (STS) to introduce our project on upright catching for laying hens in The Netherlands. This catching method significantly reduces stress, panic, and injuries by keeping the hens in their natural position, rather than being carried upside down by one leg. While upright catching was already widely used in Swiss broiler … [Read more...] about A Collaborative Success Story: Upright Catching in Switzerland
chicken-catching
Presentation on chicken catching at major conference for veterinarians and inspectors in Hannover
Today, we had the honor of being the first to present at a major conference in Hannover for German veterinarians and slaughterhouse inspectors! Our presentation focused on an important yet often overlooked topic: the catching and loading of poultry for transport. We shared our findings on how the design of transport crates and containers affects the risk of catching … [Read more...] about Presentation on chicken catching at major conference for veterinarians and inspectors in Hannover
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
WUR research proves: upright catching significantly reduces catching injuries
Recent research by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) into injury risks from different catching methods - including the traditional method (upside down by one leg), the upright catching method (as promoted by Eyes on Animals), and machine catching - shows that the upright catching method performed best. Broilers caught upright sustained significantly … [Read more...] about WUR research proves: upright catching significantly reduces catching injuries
WACPAW/EonA training on chicken-welfare given at Tamale market, Ghana
Thursdays is the famous livestock market day in Tamale, Ghana. Hundreds of cattle, goats and fowl are sold and re-loaded for transport to slaughter. Conditions are loud and brutal and our team has been trying to raise awareness and improve facilities and handling there. This past Thursday the WACPAW/EonA team gave an educational workshop to the Chicken and Guinea Fowl … [Read more...] about WACPAW/EonA training on chicken-welfare given at Tamale market, Ghana
Presentation on ‘gentle upright catching’ to Ministry of Lower Saxony (DE)
Eyes on Animals gave an online presentation today about her upright chicken catching project to the Ministry of Agriculture of Lower Saxony and representatives from the German poultry industry. By showcasing videos of upright catching and loading at several farms in the Netherlands, we demonstrated that this method (despite industry objections) is feasible and … [Read more...] about Presentation on ‘gentle upright catching’ to Ministry of Lower Saxony (DE)
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
Upright chicken catching in Germany: collaboration with vets and officials
In Germany, chickens were caught for the first time using the gentle upright method of Eyes on Animals, instead of the conventional method of grabbing birds by one leg and letting them hang upside down. This innovative initiative was organized by the University of Hannover and the Niedersachsen ministry, seeking practical experience for an upcoming project on upright … [Read more...] about Upright chicken catching in Germany: collaboration with vets and officials
EonA/WACPAW gets chicken held upright instead of upside down at festive slaughter day, Ghana
The WACPAW/EonA team were at the "festive chicken slaughter day" in Kumasi, Ghana. We were there to put a stop to chickens being held upside down by their legs. We taught the workers the importance of keeping poultry upright (chickens are not bats and do not have a diaphragm, being inverted is very scary and painful for poultry) and showed them how to carry the birds … [Read more...] about EonA/WACPAW gets chicken held upright instead of upside down at festive slaughter day, Ghana
Alleged exploitation of workers at ‘International Poultry Services’ Dutch chicken-catching company
International Poultry Services (IPS) is the largest poultry catching company in the Netherlands. It is under suspicion of exploiting their catchers and for human trafficking. An investigation into this matter was carried out by journalists from the well-respected investigative magazine Follow the Money (FTM). FTM reveals that IPS has previously been fined for … [Read more...] about Alleged exploitation of workers at ‘International Poultry Services’ Dutch chicken-catching company
