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
chicken transport
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
Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
Today Eyes on Animals visited poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet. Various animal welfare measures had been implemented. There was blue light in the lairage. It is known that this has a calming effect on the chickens. The lairage can be cooled by means of fans with a misting system. Outside the abattoir there is a woody area where trucks can be in the shade … [Read more...] about Visit to poultry slaughterhouse GPS in Nunspeet
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
Storteboom improves poultry containers to reduce injuries
Poultry slaughterhouse Storteboom took our advice into consideration on how they could improve their poultry containers and has now made positive changes. In the front of the containers there used to be one horizontal metal bar and two diagonal ones. During catching and loading, birds would sometimes crash against these metal bars, causing pain, fear and also injury. … [Read more...] about Storteboom improves poultry containers to reduce injuries
Visit to the poultry slaughterhouse Storteboom in Kornhorn
Today we visited the poultry slaughterhouse Storteboom in Kornhorn to give advice on how stress and suffering in their slaughterhouse could be reduced. Wouter Veerkamp of the company Meyn was also present. First of all, Storteboom showed us their transport containers. Based on earlier advice we had given them, they had changed the design of their construction in order to … [Read more...] about Visit to the poultry slaughterhouse Storteboom in Kornhorn
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
Visit to ESBRO poultry slaughterhouse in Wehl
Today, Eyes on Animals made an unannounced visit to slaughterhouse ESBRO in Wehl. At the slaughterhouse, 240,000 broiler chickens are slaughtered every day, including broiler chickens with a Better Life star label and Gildehoen broiler chickens that have been raised without the use of antibiotics. At ESBRO the broilers are rendered unconscious with a STORK gas stunning … [Read more...] about Visit to ESBRO poultry slaughterhouse in Wehl
