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The Dutch have had good experiences with round hen houses for laying hens. Five compartments with aviaries each run towards the center. There, the eggs are collected and packaged.
The Dutch have had positive experiences with round barns for laying hens. Each barn has five sections with aviaries that lead to the center, where the eggs are collected and packaged.
Aiming for a animal-friendly approach that has minimal impact on the environment and blends well with the landscape is the concept behind the Rondeel barns for laying hens.
There are currently six of these round barns in the Netherlands, owned by the Vencomatic Group. The eggs are exclusively sold in Albert Heijn supermarkets.
When viewed from above, each Rondeel barn has five sections with aviaries leading to the center where the eggs are collected and packaged. In each aviary section, there are 2 x 3,600 laying hens who have access to a covered indoor area filled with sand and outdoor climate during the day.
The open outdoor area surrounding the Rondeel is only protected from above by nets. It is weather-dependent and accessible to the animals, equipped with wood chips and tree stumps for their enrichment. The barn is dry cleaned and disinfected after each cycle.
The next step on the agenda is transitioning to white breeds. The Rondeel concept also emphasizes the humane catching of old hens. Transparency is important to the operators, with visitors welcome during the day, offering a visitor walkway and clear views into the barn.
As a commitment to eggs, the Vencomatic Group in Eersel near Eindhoven includes the packaging machine manufacturer Prinzen and the companies Agro Supply (heat exchangers) and Van Gent (wood laying nests for fattening animals). The 30,000 m2 main building of the Vencomatic Campus is egg-shaped, paying homage to the product around which the company revolves. With 800 employees worldwide and representatives in over 100 countries, the manufacturer of barn equipment, especially for laying hens, is researching automation in the barn. Camera-controlled conveyor belts and autonomous packaging are currently being tested. The "Rooster Booster," a prototype backpack for breeding roosters, is designed to indicate through light signals if the rooster is mating with enough hens.
