Day 102 - 13 Mar 95 - Page 36
1 A. Yes.
2
3 Q. -- and once you lift the barrier is thinned the number of
4 chickens there?
5 A. Yes.
6
7 Q. But the thinning is incidental to the catching of the
8 pullets?
9 A. That is right, yes.
10
11 Q. But you do not catch, if I understand your answers, pullets
12 at any different time of day to cockerels?
13 A. No.
14
15 Q. It is another catching operation?
16 A. Yes, that is correct.
17
18 MS. STEEL: When catching is done in daylight, that is the time
19 when it is more likely that the birds will climb over each
20 other and get in a pile, is it not?
21 A. It is possible that if care is not taken that that
22 could happen, but it could happen whether it is daylight or
23 not.
24
25 Q. If it is daylight when the shed doors are open there will
26 be bright light in the shed?
27 A. Yes.
28
29 Q. Which could startle the birds?
30 A. Yes.
31
32 Q. The birds are not used to that?
33 A. Yes, it could do.
34
35 Q. That can result in them all climbing on top of each other?
36 A. It could do if proper precautions are not taken.
37
38 Q. And smothering occurs?
39 A. It could do.
40
41 Q. What are the proper precautions that you mentioned?
42 A. Well, they are described in these procedures and,
43 basically, it is allowing birds time and sufficient space
44 to move according to the stimulus that is being provided.
45 Whether it is light, whether it is a forklift, whatever it
46 is coming into the house, the birds must be given time to
47 move.
48
49 Q. What is the set procedure then, can you just explain, from
50 opening the doors or whatever ---
51 A. Well ---
52
53 Q. -- however it is carried out?
54 A. -- when the doors are opened sufficient space has to be
55 cleared to allow the forklift and the modules to come into
56 the house and to be placed inside the house. So, the
57 catching foreman, along with the farm manager, will
58 normally push the birds sideways or towards the back of the
59 shed to give sufficient space to allow the forklift and
60 modules to come in.
