Ep 62 | Upright catching, bird flu and chicken for breakfast

Tom Woolman and Tom Willings mark World Egg Day with a discussion of poultry catching, animal welfare and the week’s news.

The Netherlands’ move towards upright catching prompts a look at what changing practices could mean for UK broiler and egg producers. Tom Willings shares his experience of trialling the method, including the practical challenges in multi-tier laying houses, while the pair consider the implications for labour, costs and the potential role of mechanical catching.

They also discuss the first bird-flu outbreak of the 2026/27 season on the Isle of Lewis, lessons from Tom Willings’ animal welfare officers’ course, and whether chicken belongs on the breakfast menu as Tom Woolman gives his verdict on McDonald’s chicken and egg McMuffin.

Along the way, there’s home butchery, an impromptu poultry quiz and news of the podcast’s unsuccessful bid for an award at the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists’ Harvest lunch.

In this episode00:16 — Welcome, kitchen aprons and home butchery02:03 — Animal welfare training and lessons from the abattoir05:17 — A poultry quiz for World Egg Day07:04 — Upright catching: welfare, costs and practical challenges10:07 — Bird flu on the Isle of Lewis11:20 — Chicken for breakfast: the McMuffin verdict13:18 — Agricultural journalism and the podcast awards16:04 — Subscribe and keep in touch

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