The "overhead catching" of poultry when they are turned out is not legally permissible and must be prevented by the local veterinary authorities, the German Animal Welfare Federation has clarified. The federation is referring to a landmark ruling from the Netherlands and applicable EU law. In "overhead catching", chickens are caught in the barn by one or both legs and carried with their heads down. Although the animals can also be caught upright - by hand or with special machines - this method, which is illegal and contrary to animal welfare, is still practiced in Germany for purely economic reasons. In a recent letter, the animal welfare campaigners call on the veterinary authorities to examine how chickens are caught and loaded in their areas of responsibility in order to take any necessary measures. The German Animal Welfare Federation, in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Felde, a judge at the Administrative Court of Giessen, has prepared a legal elaboration on "overhead catching" and made it available to the veterinary authorities and chambers of agriculture.
"Catching or carrying poultry upside down violates EU law and the German Animal Welfare Transport Ordinance. In view of the landmark ruling from the Netherlands, the ban must also be implemented promptly on German farms and the animals must be carried upright during catching," says Inke Drossé, Head of the Department for Animals in Agriculture at the German Animal Welfare Federation. "Chickens must not be allowed to suffer or be seriously injured because it is quicker or easier to catch them by the legs and carry them."
When fattening chickens and laying hens are turned out, it is common for external catcher convoys to catch the animals by both legs or even just one leg and carry them upside down to the transport crates. The catchers often have up to four animals in their hands at the same time to save time. The unnatural body position of hanging upside down leads to fear and increased stress levels. Because birds have no diaphragm, the organs in the abdomen press directly on the lungs when hanging upside down, which makes breathing difficult. When the chickens flap their wings and flap to free themselves, painful bone fractures, dislocations or dislocated joints and hematomas can easily occur. After loading, the animals often have a long journey in cramped stalls to the slaughterhouse ahead of them, despite any injuries.
LANDMARK RULING FROM THE NETHERLANDS PROVES BREACH OF EU LAW
A ruling by the Rotterdam District Court in the Netherlands in 2022 confirmed for the first time that catching poultry upside down is illegal: Carrying by the legs clearly violates the EU Animal Welfare Transport Regulation. The German Animal Welfare Transport Regulation, which is based on the EU Regulation, also prohibits "pulling or dragging" animals by their legs if this causes pain and suffering. This is also incompatible with the Animal Welfare Act. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in an opinion in 2022 that "chicken birds should be carried upright by holding their wings against the body." The binding Council of Europe recommendations on the keeping of domestic chickens from 1995 already state that "animals must not be carried with their heads down".
Note to editors: We will be happy to send you the legal elaboration on "overhead catching" on request.
