The desire of Rondeel’s main customer, Albert Heijn, to switch to white eggs brought the new challenge of applying ‘on-farm hatching’ principles to white laying breeds as well. Different conditions are needed for successful hatching of white laying breeds, which can be quite a challenge. Together with Rondeel’s rearing organization, Rondeel managed to achieve this breakthrough, with excellent on-farm hatching rates for white laying breeds. In 2022, Rondeel already started hatching brown laying chicks ‘on-farm’ on a commercial scale. After more than 100,000 chicks with successful hatch rates and robust layers as a result, it can be seen as a successful big step for animal welfare.


Rondeel, the round house concept for poultry has proven itself for 15 years as a company that puts the chicken first. Sustainability around Rondeel does not stop at the house, but is visible throughout the entire chain right down to the round biodegradable egg cartons in the supermarket. Rondeel is taking another innovative step in egg-laying: on-farm hatching with white laying breeds, letting the chick hatch in the poultry house. The first Rondeel chicks are now walking around after hatching in the barn of the Berkvens family.
Improved animal welfare, reduced environmental impact and chain shortening
Various studies and research with broilers, including Vencomatic Group’s well-known X-Treck system, have shown that hatching in the house contributes to less chick mortality, better organ development, vitality, more robust and healthier chickens. This leads to more resilient chickens and better performance.
In laying poultry, Rondeel has seen this effect proven since 2022 after the start with ‘on-farm’ hatching also in brown laying breeds. Through the application of Genus Focus technology, suitable for brown and white eggs, non-contact identification of males and females within the egg, is accurately possible. This MRI technique, using machine learning with AI, ensures that for 98% of eggs or more, only laying hens hatch, i.e., for every 50 hens, 1 brood hen.
All born Rondeel chicks stay alive, a life guarantee ‘Born to Live!®’ . The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals supports this advancement and is a “strong supporter of hatching in the house.
This has allowed Rondeel to realize the next step for white chickens as well. Hatching the hatching eggs at a fixed rearing facility in the house and then housing all born chicks at the Rondeel. In this way Rondeel offers all chicks the space to hatch at their individual natural moment. The hens grow up together with their brothers. It also further shortens the Rondeel chain and realizes the following:
- Higher level of animal welfare (egg handling instead of handling day-old chicks)
- Healthier environment with more hygienic conditions for the newly born chicks
- Direct free access to feed and water
- No more on-day old chick transport required
- Natural incorporation of all born chicks into the Rondeel
This Rondeel-initiated approach with ‘hatchlings in the house’ has been realized in cooperation with the rearing organization and Vencomatic. The project is supported by our trade partners (including Albert Heijn), to make real innovation steps in the transition to healthy, animal-oriented and integrally sustainable poultry farming.
