Beter Leven 1 star

Ongehoord published images of two farms that received a star rating from the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming) for their broiler chickens. However, the rating for both farms in Hulten, Brabant, and Loppersum, Groningen, turned out to be unfounded. The Society claims that the chicks grow slower, but the Ongehoord investigation team discovered the same welfare issues as with regular chicks. They found animals suffering from paralysis, deformed legs, respiratory problems, and other conditions linked to growth rate. The slower growth is relative; the chicks reach about 2.3 kilograms within eight weeks.

At both farms, decomposed carcasses were found in the barn. The outdoor run, as labeled by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming), is actually covered, walled, and has a paved ground without vegetation. This makes the term "outdoor run" misleading, as it refers to an additional section of the barn. The star-rated barn in Hulten belongs to Elly de Kort, who is the primary spokesperson for the broiler chicken farmers.

Beter Leven 2 stars

Thymen van Voorthuizen from Terschuur has received 2 stars for his broiler chickens from the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming). In the overcrowded barn, the investigation team encountered some of the most shocking scenes. They found a still-living chick with its back completely pecked open. Blood leaked from the gaping wound, and the chick could no longer move. Other chickens walked over it and continued to peck. Many chickens had wounds on their soles and hocks, suffering from footpad lesions and hock dermatitis. They struggled to walk or couldn't move at all. The investigation team also found one chicken lying in the manure with its wing limply beside it. Upon inspection, its leg appeared white, indicating it was unable to walk.

Light

According to the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming), a Beter Leven barn must stay dark for at least eight hours to help chickens develop a normal day-night rhythm. However, when the investigation team arrived at 3:00 AM, the lights in the barn were on. The lights turned off at 3:30 PM, indicating that the Beter Leven chickens in Terschuur do not receive an eight-hour night. The barn has windows, which means it gets light even at sunrise. The investigation team visited in September, when the sun set at 8:00 PM and rose at 7:00 AM. Therefore, it is impossible for the barn to have been dark for eight hours.

Organic (Beter Leven 3 stars)

Ongehoord published images from two organic broiler barns. In Dreumel, the Vink family's barn had dead and dying chicks. The situation at De Polderhoenderhof farm in Lelystad was even worse. There were countless dead and dying chickens, along with several chicks that could barely walk, chicks with brain infections, dirty bottoms, inflamed eyes, and other health issues. After discovering these abuses, the Ongehoord investigation team decided to install a hidden camera at De Polderhoenderhof. The footage revealed that the chicks do not get to go outside every day.

Catch

When the chickens reach nearly 3 kilos after 12 weeks, the industry catches them and sends them to the slaughterhouse. Hidden camera footage reveals that the catching process is not gentle. The lights in the barn turn off, and a forklift truck enters. An employee kicks the chickens aside. The forklift truck drops off crates and then exits. The catching occurs in the dark, so it's not visible on camera. When the forklift truck returns, the catcher quickly grabs two chickens by their legs and tosses them into the crate. The next day, this is also how the "forgotten" chicks are caught. You can see this footage for yourself at www.onghoord.info.