BUSINESS

Bell & Evans to build state-of-the-art humane hatchery

The hatchery will be constructed in Bethel Township and should be producing more than 1 million chicks a week by the end of the year

John Latimer
johnlatimer@ldnews.com

FREDERICKSBURG — Bell & Evans has signed an agreement with a pair of Dutch companies to build what the local chicken-producer is calling the first humane, animal welfare-focused chick hatchery in the United States.

Bell & Evans president and owner Scott Sechler demonstrates a crate that is part of a new Dutch-designed humane hatchery the Fredericksburg chicken-producer will build later this year in Bethel Township.

Bell & Evans' partnership between HatchTech and Viscon was announced last week at the International Production and Processing Expo held in Atlanta. But the project has been in the planning stages for years and resulted from research Bell & Evans founder and President Scott Sechler Sr. made on trips to the Netherlands. The result, he said, will be a state-of-the-art facility in keeping with his philosophy of handling chickens in a humane and stress-free manner.

“I’ve made many trips to Europe in search of our next hatchery system,” Sechler said. “HatchTech and Viscon are the perfect fit for Bell & Evans, not only because of the advanced technology they offer, but because they are passionate and forward-thinking in what they do. Their focus on humane animal welfare is directly in line with my philosophy to continually reduce stress and improve the welfare and comfort of our chickens.”

300 more jobs come with Bell & Evans' new plant

Unlike its current hatcheries and the ones used by other chicken producers, where peeps are born in dark conditions and go without nourishment for several days before being taken to a farm, Bell & Evans’ new hatchery will use HatchTech’s patented HatchCare technology to provide an air- and temperature-controlled environment for the embryos, with fresh food and water available as soon as the chicks hatch.

The production results will be optimized with Viscon’s state-of-the-art Live Embryo Detection system that ensures only live embryos are incubated, and provides in-ovo vaccination and a stress-free chick transfer line, Sechler said.

Ultimately, it will end with healthier, more disease-resistant chicks being sent to area farms where they will be raised free from antibiotics, Sechler said.

When the new hatchery is ready, Sechler said, he will say goodbye to the current way his chicks are hatched. Eventually, the industry will catch up, although that will take time because of the added expense of production, he predicted.

"When I saw this I said, 'this is what we want. This is what's right for the animals,'" he said. "Now that I know I can do it, I have to. I can't raise some chicks with immediate access to fresh food and water, and ignore others that are not being fed for two or three days before going to the farm."

Sechler anticipates the hatchery in Lebanon County will be in operation by the end of the year. During the first phase, it will be able to produce 1.6 million chicks a week, with planned expansions raising that total to 3 million in the next couple of years, he said.

The partnership with Bell & Evans was praised by HatchTech’s U.S. sales manager Gilbert Klumpenaar.

“Introducing HatchCare to the USA market together with Bell & Evans is a perfect move for both of our companies,” he said. “Bell & Evans is producing antibiotic-free and organic chicken with with a strong focus on animal welfare. The HatchCare system will contribute to everything they stand for.”

That sentiment was echoed by Viscon’s general manager Bas Smaal.

“We are excited to partner with Bell & Evans and support their humane animal welfare focus. Our Viscon systems, coupled with HatchCare, make this the most advanced hatchery system in the united States.

The new hatchery will cost about $30 million to build and equip, which is nearly twice the initial estimate, Secher said.

It is a key part of Bell & Evans' expansion, which is well over $100 million. It will be constructed later this year on land in Bethel Township that is about a mile from its office headquarters and not far from its new production and packaging plant off Route 22. It will also be near a rendering facility that is in the design phase and should be under construction about a year from now, Sechler said.

"We are now running Friday night and Saturday night (shifts)," he said. "I need this hatchery to keep up with demand."

Although the hatchery will add only about 30 jobs, Sechler said, he will be hiring about 200 more employees this year. When all the projects are finished, Bell & Evans will be the county's leading employer with more than 3,000 workers, about double what it currently employs.

"We are hiring," Sechler said. "We are looking for leaders, for line workers, drivers. We need everybody."