Dutch Poultry Farm Shields Itself Against Avian Flu With Laser Bird Deterrent

Location	Den Bommel in Goeree-Overflakkee, Netherlands
Application context	The free-range area and the roof of the chicken barns
Problem definition	Wild geese in the free-range area, as carriers of avian flu, pose a threat to the chickens
Bird species	Geese
Bird behavior	Foraging
Time of the year with bird problems	The whole year
Time of the day with bird problems	Between sunrise and sunset
Number of systems	2 x AVIX Autonomic Mark II
In use since	2018
Bird reduction after the system has been installed	100% less geese
Laser projection area	383 yards around the barns, with the second barn covering a total of 38.5 acres

The Dutch company Eibaar, founded in 2012, is an egg farm in Den Bommel, Netherlands where the welfare of the chickens is paramount. Eibaar is enthusiastic about sharing the story behind the egg. They are completely transparent when it comes to teaching visitors about their farm through individual excursions, school trips and visits to a skybox to view the inside of their barn. The farm exudes the authenticity of a generational farmer and, at the same time, is modern and progressive.

“We started Eibaar in 2012 to sell eggs more transparently under our own brand name, but with a good story. The story behind the egg and the quality of the end product are essential to us. What started as a local product has grown into a company with over 100 customers.”

Jan de Baar

The company has 85,000 chickens spread across three chicken coops. One-third of the eggs are sold under the company’s own brand, Eibaar. The remaining portion is distributed to the German and Swiss markets through wholesale channels. In addition to supplying eggs, Eibaar is the only supplier in Europe to offer smoked eggs. The eggs are smoked using a patented process, giving them a delicious smoky flavor.

Eibaar eggs can be found in local Dutch supermarkets, farm shops, restaurants and at catering wholesalers such as Bidfood.

Free-range chickens: freedom and a natural environment
Whenever possible, the chickens are let out into the free-range meadow, a spacious area around the stables. Here they wander about among the willow trees, which provide shelter and a natural environment. The chickens are not the only ones to benefit from this space, other animals such as birds, insects, hares and deer do as well.

One bird species, however, is less welcome: the goose. These birds are known carriers of avian influenza, and their increasing presence around the stables poses a growing risk.

According to the research from Wageningen University the population of geese in the Netherlands is rising, more geese are staying during summer and becoming permanent residents. This is probably because of the excellent food supply in combination with the many nearby nature areas in which the geese can brood in peace.

Innovative control of avian influenza
At Eibaar, the welfare of the chickens is always paramount. That is why every effort is made to keep wild birds, and geese in particular, at a distance. The 383 yard outdoor pasture around the stables appears to be particularly attractive to the wild geese.

To address this problem, the poultry organization AVINED installed an AVIX Autonomic Mark II laser bird repeller on the roof of the Eibaar chicken shed in 2018. The aim was to investigate whether the laser could be used effectively to protect against bird flu in the poultry sector.

The AVIX Autonomic Laser, which works all year round and projects pre-set patterns on and around the barn for half an hour four times a day, proved to be immediately effective: all wild geese stayed away, without the chickens being bothered. After this successful trial period, Eibaar decided to purchase this laser.

When Eibaar had a second barn built in the polder in 2019, a second laser was immediately purchased and installed on that roof without hesitation. This keeps the entire 38.5 acre site (barn including outdoor run) in the polder free of wild geese.

“The second barn is in the middle of the polder. The neighbor had some grass next to it and the other neighbor had been harvesting beets there. It was completely full of geese. And only that corner of the run that wasn’t illuminated with the laser had geese in it and not the rest. So you can see it really works!”

Sjef de Baar

Continuous Improvement for Chicken Welfare
Eibaar continues to innovate to improve the lives of the chickens and protect them. A sound system was recently added to keep wild birds at a greater distance. This caused some inconvenience for the neighbors at first, but this problem was resolved after adjusting the volume.

Thanks to the combination of smart technologies, such as the AVIX Autonomic Mark II laser, and a constant focus on animal welfare, Eibaar can offer its chickens a safe and healthy environment. The laser has proven itself as a sustainable and effective solution to bird nuisance.

With their progressive approach and constant focus on transparency, animal welfare and innovation, Eibaar is a leading player in the Dutch egg sector.