Rearing and egg production in the same house? For the Claessens-Jenniskens family from the Netherlands, this is not a vision of the future, but reality. Together with Big Dutchman, the innovative egg producers created a concept that combines all phases of a laying hen’s life under one roof. The system was tested under real-life conditions in the family’s Eggsperience Center.
“We fully support NATURA Life.”
Egg production: from (hatching) egg to (commercial) egg – one aviary concept for all phases of a hen’s life
📣 In this interview, Jelle Claessens explains where the idea came from, how the tests went and whether there were any challenges.
Jelle Claessens: We were inspired by Marcel Kuijpers of Kuijpers Kip, a Dutch broiler company. He was the first to introduce a system where chicks are hatched and raised in the same house. During a conversation, he explained the positive effects this has on the early life stages of a chick. His insights made us think critically about our own supply chain and consider how we could apply this concept to our laying hens.
My father, John Claessens, then took it a step further. Could we not only let chicks hatch in a rearing house but also create an environment where the chicks hatch, grow into a mature laying hens, and remain in the same system to lay eggs? The idea was to combine rearing and laying under one roof: “OneFarm”.
Jelle Claessens: We approached Big Dutchman with our idea, and they surprised us with solid designs. Big Dutchman came up with a robust and well-thought-out concept based on existing and proven systems. Their ideas convinced us right away.
We are very familiar with pullet rearing and egg production. However, hatching was new to us and raised some questions. Hatching the eggs in the house itself, a much larger environment than the controlled conditions in a hatchery, made it slightly more challenging to regulate the desired temperature precisely.
Still, we felt certain that this system would benefit the hens. Hatching, growing, and laying eggs in the same environment – where the system grows with the hens – was immediately convincing. This not only has advantages for the birds’ health but also for their welfare.
Of course, there were doubts. Could a system be created in which pullets thrive and which meets the requirements of adult laying hens while remaining an open system?
Jelle Claessens: Together with our partners, we developed a small practical location called the Eggsperience Center. Here, we see that the hens thrive in this system. They develop well during the rearing phase, which pays off during the laying period. They are strong, robust hens that do not need to adapt to a new environment once they start laying.
As for our doubts about hatching eggs, these were quickly resolved. We achieve the same hatch rates as hatcheries.
However, we continue to optimise the system to make it even better. We are still in development and working in close collaboration with Big Dutchman and other partners to continuously improve the system. This means focusing not only on the technical aspects but also on user-friendliness and the birds’ performance. Every detail matters, from climate control in the house to the accessibility of the nests.
Jelle Claessens: Certainly. With a new system, you always encounter challenges that only become apparent in practice.
For example, nest use was a significant consideration. We debated when to open the nests. We found that opening the nests earlier helps the birds adapt faster and reduces the number of mislaid eggs.
Another advantage is that we see that the hens not only perform well but also visibly feel comfortable in this system. This naturally brings various additional benefits, both for the flock and for us as poultry farmers.
Jelle Claessens: The Eggsperience Center was built to test different innovations. Apart from the new aviary, we are also testing a heat recovery system, for example. Partial innovations can provide solutions for other poultry farmers. So yes, this system could be an option for egg producers looking in this direction, and yes, they can also use these innovations in their existing houses.
We are satisfied with the results so far. This year, we are starting a new batch in our Eggsperience Center. Considering the rapidly changing regulations in the Netherlands, this system could be a good solution for our business. After this final testing phase, we plan to implement the system in one of our regular houses.
We fully support NATURA Life.
