Last January Eyes on Animals was invited by a major egg company in England to give them advice on the catching and loading of laying hens. Together we visited a large laying hen farm and observed the catching and loading of the birds for transport. The hens were caught by two legs (RSPCA requirement) instead of just, as is often the case in the Netherlands, by one leg. … [Read more...] about Poultry sector in England interested in EonA upright catching method
chicken-catching
Again catching chickens at Rondeel EonA with upright method
A team of Eyes on Animals assisted and supervised the capture of 27,000 laying hens at Rondeel in Barneveld. The catching team of about 35 people (den Ouden and Van den Broek) had been trained by us before and had already worked with this method a few times before. Therefore, they were already well acquainted with the upright method. Because of this experience, it soon … [Read more...] about Again catching chickens at Rondeel EonA with upright method
Bravo to Rondeel poultry and egg company !
Did you know that Rondeel is one of the 2 egg companies that made the switch to the EonA upright method of catching hens ? It means that they humanely catch hens one or maximum 2 at a time, holding the birds upright and supporting them under their breasts, and placing them in the transport crates upright. This is much better than the conventional method that all other egg … [Read more...] about Bravo to Rondeel poultry and egg company !
EonA’s new video about improving welfare during chicken-catching
We just made an updated version of our video “ Calming the Catch”, explaining how “spent” laying hens are caught to be transported to slaughter, and what steps we have successfully taken to initiate change. Now there are two large Dutch egg companies that have adapted the “ EonA Dutch” method of catching, and we are working on convincing more and more. … [Read more...] about EonA’s new video about improving welfare during chicken-catching
Animal welfare training at Jekal, Van den Broek and Den Ouden at Kipster
Today we gave an animal welfare training to three catching teams: Jekal, Van den Broek and Den Ouden. When the training was finished, the catching teams had collectively caught more than 21,000 chickens using the Swedish way. Because this catching method is now being used on a larger scale in the Netherlands compared to Sweden, we now call it the: EonA Dutch method. … [Read more...] about Animal welfare training at Jekal, Van den Broek and Den Ouden at Kipster
Poultry farm Boerveenshof is going to catch their hens on the EonA Dutch way
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
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
