A new hatchery with an emphasis on transparency opened in the outskirts of Nordhorn, northwest Germany, came into operation late last year.
The Optibrut facility, close the border with the Netherlands, is working with transparency literally and figuratively.
By making the maximum use of natural light, it is bringing the benefits associated with daylight inside the building for workers and chicks, but the development has also been described as a “YouTube” hatchery, opening up the work that is carried out there to all who want to see.
The facility is the initiative of Hans Groot Koerkamp and Klas Knol, Dutch nationals with a history in chick and other agricultural production.
A year in construction, Koerkamp and Knol worked with design-and-build partner Bright Buildings, specialists in architecture that make the maximum use of natural light. Building, machines and installations are said to be “optimally matched,” yet despite the future-looking design, costs were kept low through use of standard components.
Harnessing light
Maximizing use of natural light is thought to bring several benefits, with daylight said to make employees and chicks feel fitter, more energetic and alert. Where staff are concerned, this is said to raise productivity while lowering absenteeism and, where energy costs are concerned, bills are lower.
The transparent nature of the building is not restricted to the outer walls. Inside, there are glass-walled corridors, which means the public, should they want, can see up-close how operations are carried out.
The Optibrut hatchery may claim to be the first completely transparent hatchery in Europe with all direct benefits that such an approach brings, but it is hoped the benefits will spread beyond its glass walls.
In addition to an optimal working and hatching environment for staff and chicks there were other drivers behind the design and, according to Koerkamp, the hatchery is also different from others as it has been designed from the farmers’ viewpoint.
“We thought, how can be combine the hatchery with farmers’ experiences, and with transparency we can help to tell their story,” he said.
Amongst the most modern
The hatchery has started production with 850,000 chicks per week but has the capacity to produce 1.6 million. It will supply the German market, which is also from where all inputs are sourced, but being close to the border with the Netherlands, it can also easily ship chicks there if the need arises. The hatchery is currently producing Ross 308 chicks.
The hatchery has the capacity to receive 80,000 eggs per hour, with the receiving area being fully automated, as is the candling and transfer room, which can handle 90,00 chicks per hour.
It uses the HatchCare system, which gives chicks unlimited access to feed, water and light as soon as they hatch, preventing dehydration and stimulating intestine growth. Not only does the system provide a high quality chick, but with good welfare credentials, it aligns with the approach of being transparent.
There is a linear sexing line with room for eight people to work, and with two chutes per sexer, which are ergonomic and switchable. The facility has what has been described as the most chick friendly counter in the world, with an accuracy of better than 1 in 2.000 chicks, and a capacity of 72,000 chicks per hour.
“Our chicks are a little more expensive to buy, but they do not need such high temperatures when they arrive on farm, growth has already started, and they don’t need antibiotics, so the farmer quickly gets that money back,” Koekamp says.
Chicks are dispatched to customers in trays which also contain feed. The hatchery has its own tray color, blue, and will only accept its own trays back from farmers to help prevent contamination.
