Happy Hens
The Indian company, Happy Hens, dedicated to free-range native poultry farming, is the latest operation to receive the Certified Humane® animal welfare certification for laying hens producing free-range eggs. The certification covers their own farm and processing facility in Bangalore, as well as three integrated suppliers located in the cities of Perambalur and Tiruchirappalli.
Committed to natural and sustainable farming practices, Happy Hens was introduced to the program and identified with its purposes through the recommendation of the Humane Society International (HSI) in India. They share the belief that healthy food can only be produced by happy animals.
“The certification confirms our quality standards and serves to guarantee authenticity for the benefit of our customers, as well as to reach more international clients,” says Manjunath Marappan, a partner in the company, which produces about five thousand eggs per day and estimates an annual revenue of 30 million rupees (approximately R$ 2.1 million).
The certification applies to the entire production of the company, which is focused on the brand Happy Hens Free Range Omega-3 Eggs. The goal is to expand the adoption of the Certified Humane® program to all future integrated farms. This conviction comes from Manjunath’s confidence in the work developed by HFAC, which he describes as “encouraging, educational, and excellent.”
Since the beginning of the partnership, Happy Hens has noticed improvements in the overall health of their birds, along with better record-keeping of production and a significant increase in productivity.
The Journey of Happy Hens Farm
The company was born from the ideals of its two co-founders. Manjunath volunteered for animal welfare as a student and helped rescue urban wildlife in Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka. As the son of farmers, he was exposed early on to free-range poultry farming in the backyard and decided to invest in natural production to break away from the extensive industrial agriculture system that India had plunged into over the past three decades.
To achieve this, he partnered with Ashok, another enthusiast of producing high-quality food based on sustainable farming. Together, in 2010, they created Happy Hens Farm – India’s first free-range farm – which now distributes its products to general markets, as well as hotels and cafes in seven Indian cities.
Throughout its journey, the company highlights three fundamental values that it never compromises on: maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, dedicating itself to producing clean and nutritious food for a healthy life, and being socially responsible, with a direct impact on small-scale family farming.
“The journey has been very exciting and challenging. With enormous potential in India, we look forward to expanding our business and impacting more lives (both chickens and farmers),” concludes Manjunath.
Learn more about the company on its website and social media: Facebook and Instagram.
