The request from Rondeel’s main customer, Albert Heijn, to switch to white eggs brought the new challenge of applying the ‘on-farm hatching’ principle to white laying breeds. Different conditions are required for the successful hatching of white laying breeds, which was quite a challenge. Together with Rondeel’s rearing organization, Rondeel has succeeded in achieving another breakthrough—this time for white laying breeds—implementing on-farm hatching with excellent hatch rates. In 2022, Rondeel was also the first to commercially hatch brown laying chicks ‘on farm’ for Rondeel. After more than 100,000 chicks successfully hatched, resulting in robust laying hens, this marks a significant and successful step forward in animal welfare.
Rondeel, the circular poultry barn concept, has proven itself for 15 years as a company that puts the chicken first. Sustainability at Rondeel goes beyond the barn and is visible throughout the entire chain, all the way to the round biodegradable egg cartons in supermarkets. Rondeel is taking another innovative step in laying poultry farming: on-farm hatching with white laying breeds, allowing chicks to hatch directly in the poultry barn. The first Rondeel chicks are now roaming around after hatching in the barn of the Berkvens family.
Improving Animal Welfare, Reducing Environmental Impact, and Shortening the Supply Chain
Various studies and research with broiler chickens, including the well-known X-Treck system by Vencomatic, have shown that on-farm hatching reduces chick mortality, improves organ development, vitality, and results in more robust and healthier chickens. This leads to more resilient birds and better performance.
Since 2022, Rondeel has also proven this effect with brown laying breeds after starting ‘on-farm hatching’ in laying poultry. By applying the Genus Focus technique—suitable for both brown and white eggs—it is possible to accurately separate male and female chicks inside the egg without contact. This MRI technology, combined with AI machine learning, ensures that in 98% or more of the eggs, only laying hens hatch—about 1 male chick per 50 hens.
All Rondeel chicks born are guaranteed to live under the ‘Born to Live!®’ label. The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals supports this progress and is a strong advocate for on-farm hatching.
This has enabled Rondeel to take the next step with white hens as well. Fertile eggs now hatch at a fixed rearing farm inside the barn, and all hatched chicks are then raised on the Rondeel farm. This offers every chick the space to hatch naturally at their own individual time. They grow up together with their siblings. The Rondeel supply chain is further shortened, achieving the following:
- Higher level of animal welfare (egg handling instead of handling day-old chicks)
- Healthier environment with more hygienic conditions for newly hatched chicks
- Immediate free access to feed and water
- No more chick transport needed
- Natural integration of all hatched chicks into the Rondeel system
This approach, initiated by Rondeel with ‘on-farm hatching,’ was realized in cooperation with the rearing organization and Vencomatic. The project is supported by our trading partners (including Albert Heijn) to make real innovative strides in the transition toward a healthy, animal-focused, and integrally sustainable poultry industry.
