The project must map the common trapping methods in Flanders, both for broilers and reformed laying hens. An alternative trapping method whereby the chickens are not handled upside down, but remain upright, must be taught to trapping teams who will apply it in practice, both on meat and laying farms. The effect of the new trapping method must be quantified by comparing it with the current method in the field of work efficiency and satisfaction, animal-related welfare indicators (including fear, stress, injuries, death, exhaustion), production losses (slaughterhouse records), opinion and attitude of those directly involved and acceptability for the consumer / citizen. On this basis, the costs and benefits for all links in the chain (the animals, the chicken farmers, the catching teams, the slaughterhouses and the consumer / citizen) of this alternative catching method are compared with the common manual method and the mechanical method. Recommendations are also formulated to implement best practice in chicken trapping in practice.

The project must map the common trapping methods in Flanders, both for broilers and reformed laying hens. An alternative trapping method whereby the chickens are not handled upside down, but remain upright, must be taught to trapping teams who will apply it in practice, both on meat and laying farms. The effect of the new trapping method must be quantified by comparing it with the current method in the field of work efficiency and satisfaction, animal-related welfare indicators (including fear, stress, injuries, death, exhaustion), production losses (slaughterhouse records), opinion and attitude of those directly involved, and acceptability for the consumer / citizen. On this basis, the costs and benefits for all links in the chain (the animals, the chicken farmers, the catching teams, the slaughterhouses and the consumer / citizen) of this alternative catching method are compared with the common manual method and the mechanical method. Recommendations are also formulated to implement best practice in chicken trapping in practice.