Superior Animal Welfare
We believe our chickens deserve a good life. And we work hard to give it to them, from the second they hatch all the way through humane harvest.
What it Means to be
Humanely Raised
Bell & Evans’ superior animal welfare standards are an ever-evolving set of best practices in ethical treatment.
And we promote the industry’s highest animal welfare standards for the chicken’s entire lifecycle.
We strive to be better today than we were yesterday and keep the chickens’ well-being at the forefront of everything we do.
A Note from the Sechlers
We’ve promoted our improvements and results for years, giving the other guys plenty of opportunity to copy us. The difference is that when we make improvements, we do it for the right reasons—for the better of our chickens and our customers. We’re proud to lead and influence the poultry industry, especially as a smaller producer. And we’re not done!
Our Welfare Standards
unmatched in the industry
We have been innovators in superior animal welfare for decades.
National and third-party animal welfare standards are not inclusive of the chickens’ ENTIRE lifecycle. Bell & Evans holds itself to a higher standard. See how The Bell & Evans Superior Animal Welfare Standard compares to others*.
*Updated June 1, 2026 against Global Animal Partnership (GAP) v4.1 certifications.
Hatchery |
Other Humane Standards | |
|---|---|---|
Organic-certified Facility |
||
Access to organic-certified feed, water and light immediately at hatch |
||
Chicks not handled by machinery for a low-stress environment |
||
No antibiotics injected into the egg or chick on the first day of life |
||
No antibiotics or prohibited substances after the second day of life |
||
Slow Induction Euthanasia of sick chicks at the hatchery |
Housing |
Other Humane Standards | |
|---|---|---|
Cement floors & curbs in houses for thorough cleanout to prevent pests |
||
Full cleanout and two week empty period between flocks |
||
100% fresh litter for every flock |
||
No partial house brooding, chickens have full access to the house |
||
No physical alterations such as beak trimming |
||
Plentiful windows for natural daylight and sleep hours for wellness |
||
Enrichments such as tunnels and ramps |
||
Outdoor access when weather permits |
||
On-farm humane euthanasia by trained personnel |
Feed and Water |
Other Humane Standards | |
|---|---|---|
Continuous access to drinking water |
||
Continuous access to feed and feeders without restriction |
||
All-vegetarian diet with no animal or bakery by-products |
||
100% U.S. grown grains |
||
Soybeans that are expeller-pressed and hexane free |
||
Feed kept clean, dry and rodent proof |
Transportation |
Other Humane Standards | |
|---|---|---|
Modular drawer system—no wire cages or dumping systems |
||
Short commute of an hour on average from farm to harvest |
||
Live-haul trailers are automated onto the processing line, no handling |
||
Birds enter the harvesting facility in the same modulars from the trailers |
||
Blue lights are installed for birds to remain calm for comfort |
||
Still in the same modulars, birds are rendered unconscious through Slow Induction Anesthesia. |
Superior Animal Welfare
The Bell & Evans Difference
Tour Our Hatchery
We believe chickens need a healthy start. That’s why we built the world’s first Organic Certified Superior Animal Welfare Chicken Hatchery.
Inside the Farms
We pioneered the highest set of superior animal welfare standards in the industry and realized there was room for improvement in our breed.
