Today, Eyes on Animals visited Smits’ poultry farm. Here they also produce eggs under the label Eike which are sold at Sligro (wholesaler). The Eike laying hens get daylight (via light tunnels in the ceiling) and have access to enrichment material in the barn (tree stumps and live larvae daily). The reason for our meeting is that Smits has indicated that they would like to … [Read more...] about Meeting with poultry farm ‘Smits bron van energie’ about catching their hens upright (NL)
chicken transport
The court rules: catching poultry upside down by their legs is against the law
The way most poultry is caught and loaded in the Netherlands is not only inhumane, it is also against the law. The European Council Regulation 1/2005 states that it is prohibited to lift or drag animals by their legs or cause them unnecessary pain or suffering. (Appendix I, Chapter III, 1.8.d) “It shall be prohibited to lift or drag the animals by head, ears, horns, … [Read more...] about The court rules: catching poultry upside down by their legs is against the law
Ekoplaza changes to the EonA upright catching method
Following the Kassa tv broadcast, supermarket chain Ekoplaza has announced that going forward all eggs in their stores will originate from hens that, will be caught in the more animal friendly “EonA upright method” when going for slaughter. At the end of 2020 Demeter had already informed us that all their poultry farmers will jointly change to the EonA upright … [Read more...] about Ekoplaza changes to the EonA upright catching method
Training and upright catching at Demeter poultry farm De Dennenhoeve
Today Eyes on Animals gave an animal welfare training to the catching team of Kees Sijbenga of Demeter poultry farm de Dennenhoeve. After the training the catchers caught Kees’s 2.800 laying hens using the EonA upright method under supervision of Eyes on Animals. Normally the hens are caught by one leg, held upside down and then stuffed into crates 3-5 at a time for … [Read more...] about Training and upright catching at Demeter poultry farm De Dennenhoeve
Poultry-catching at Gijs egg farm, The Netherlands
Like Rondeel, Kipster and Demeter, Gijs egg company is another good egg company that decided to stop catching their spent hens in the traditional way (2-3 birds per hand, held upside down by their legs and then stuffed into the transport crates). They agreed enthusiastically to switch to the more humane “ EonA upright method”, which fits better with their … [Read more...] about Poultry-catching at Gijs egg farm, The Netherlands
Eyes on Animals on Dutch TV show Kassa
Laying hens spend on average 18 months on the egg-farm before they are caught, loaded into transport crates and sent for slaughter. How are the hens, kept by the thousands, actually caught ? By “ chicken-catchers” who grab them by the leg, hold them upside down, 3-4 birds per hand and then stuff them into the small openings of the transport crates. The job is tough, … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals on Dutch TV show Kassa
Kipster catches 23.000 hens with the EonA upright catching method
Last Tuesday evening an Eyes on Animals team supervised and gave instructions during the upright catching of 23.000 laying hens at one of Kipsters’ laying-hen farms, in Beuningen. Instead of being grabbed and held upside down by one leg, which causes a lot of stress and pain, the hens were caught using the method developed by Eyes on Animals, upright and around the breast. … [Read more...] about Kipster catches 23.000 hens with the EonA upright catching method
Kipster publishes annual report 2019 with mentioning of the Eyes on Animals upright catching method
Kipster (Dutch egg company) has sent us their annual report 2019. On page 16 our upright catching method of hens (max 2 at a time, held and loaded upright in a gentle manner) instead of the conventional method (holding the birds upside down by their legs, with 3 - 4hens in each hand) is mentioned. Kipster was, after Rondeel, the second egg company that agreed with Eyes on … [Read more...] about Kipster publishes annual report 2019 with mentioning of the Eyes on Animals upright catching method
Observations during catching and loading of broilers at Grefte in Zieuwent
Today we observed the catching and loading of broilers at Grefte poultry farm in Zieuwent. Jeroen van den Hurk, poultry sector manager at Rabobank, invited us to join Paul Grefte, owner of an innovative broiler farm. Paul wanted to show us a number of innovations on his farm. In order to reduce heat stress in broilers, they were loaded in the evening and at night. … [Read more...] about Observations during catching and loading of broilers at Grefte in Zieuwent
No possibility to access chickens in need of help during transport
During random inspections of livestock lorries on the roads, Eyes on Animals inspectors again noticed broiler chickens stuck on their backs in transport containers. One of the reasons broiler chickens are often found on their backs is because of rough loading at the poultry farm. However, it can also happen during transport when the truck takes a sharp turn or drives over … [Read more...] about No possibility to access chickens in need of help during transport
