Poultry farm Boerveenshof has decided to catch and load their hens the EonA Dutch way - when the hens have to be sent to slaughter. Boerveenshof is the first Demeter company that will practice the EonA Dutch catching method on a large scale. The hens will be caught by Poultry service Smeding (NL) after receiving training from Eyes on Animals. Smeding is also very keen to … [Read more...] about Poultry farm Boerveenshof is going to catch their hens on the EonA Dutch way
chicken-catching
Meeting with Kipster about EonA Dutch catching and loading
Today we met with Ruud Zanders from Kipster (egg producing company) to discuss the catching and loading of 11.000 Kipster hens earlier this month – using the EonA Dutch method. Ruud said that after the catching experience, he has been convinced the EonA Dutch method is the correct approach and will now switch to this. The birds experience far less stress and the extra … [Read more...] about Meeting with Kipster about EonA Dutch catching and loading
Meeting about EonA Dutch catching with poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding
Today we had a meeting with biodynamic poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding from Dronrijp (NL). Rolf and Danielle from Boerveenshof would like to catch their hens (once due for slaughter) using the EonA Dutch method. This ensures the chickens are kept upright instead of grabbed and hung by their legs. The goal is to cause less stress and pain to the … [Read more...] about Meeting about EonA Dutch catching with poultry farm Boerveenshof and poultry service Smeding
11,000 Kipster chickens caught in the EonA Dutch way
After our work with Rondeel, Kipster has also decided to switch to the EonA Dutch catching method. With the EonA Dutch catching method, chickens are caught two at a time, upright around the breast and wings. With this method, the chickens experience less stress and pain compared to the commercial catching method where chickens are grabbed roughly by their legs, held … [Read more...] about 11,000 Kipster chickens caught in the EonA Dutch way
Talk with Demeter about chicken-catching methods
Today we had a meeting with Demeter Netherlands about the welfare of laying hens during catching, loading and slaughtering. At the moment, laying hens on Demeter farms in the Netherlands are still being caught in the same way as non-Demeter hens, namely by their legs and held upside down, with a catcher holding 3-5 hens in one hand. We have asked Demeter to switch, just … [Read more...] about Talk with Demeter about chicken-catching methods
Jolmers shows us their welfare course
Today we visited Jolmers Opleidingen. Jolmers is one of two institutes in the Netherlands that provides the new and compulsory course for chicken catchers. Eyes on Animals has been providing welfare courses to chicken catcher teams since 2015. We attended Jolmers' course and then exchanged ideas, experiences and knowledge with each other. Animal welfare is increasingly … [Read more...] about Jolmers shows us their welfare course
Rondeel chickens first to be caught and loaded in a more friendly manner
Chickens will no longer be grabbed by their legs, hung upside down and stuffed into transport crates 4 to 5 at a time when they leave the farm to go to the slaughterhouse. Eyes on Animals has introduced the 'EonA Dutch catching method' to the Dutch poultry industry. Dutch poultry and egg farm "Rondeel" is the first to switch over. Organic, free range, barn and caged … [Read more...] about Rondeel chickens first to be caught and loaded in a more friendly manner
Training of Pots chicken catchers
Last night we gave a poultry- welfare workshop to Pots chicken catchers near Zwolle. Roughly 15 catchers were present to learn about the physiology of poultry, and what to pay attention to during catching and loading in order to reduce stress and suffering. Afterwards we were at a commercial farm with them where they had been hired to catch and load all the spent hens. The … [Read more...] about Training of Pots chicken catchers
Meeting with poultry industry on compulsory IKB chicken catching course
Today Eyes on Animals had a meeting with representatives of the poultry industry (Avined, LTO, Nepluvi and chicken catching companies) about the upcoming mandatory IKB chicken catching course. As Eyes on Animals has much field experience and gives trainings to chicken catchers too, we initiated this meeting to exchange ideas and observations in the field. We were a bit … [Read more...] about Meeting with poultry industry on compulsory IKB chicken catching course
Inspection catching and loading at Wingens’ broiler-farm
Today, on invitation by Rob and Egbert Wingens, two brothers who own a broiler-farm in Schaijk (NL), we were given the opportunity to observe both the catching and loading of broilers at their facility. The broilers were loaded into Stork containers of 4 trays high. The broilers were destined to be slaughtered at the slaughterhouse ‘Plukon’. The broilers were caught 5 at a … [Read more...] about Inspection catching and loading at Wingens’ broiler-farm
