Protest against gigantic chicken enclosure in Celle-Lévescault!

Protest against gigantic chicken enclosure in Celle-Lévescault!

Today, November 29, 2025, a lively demonstration took place in Celle-Lévescault, bringing over 160 people to the streets. The protest began at 11:30 a.m. from the center's parking lot and lasted more than an hour. The participants are vehemently opposed to the planned project of an industrial chicken enclosure, which will house 150,000 laying hens and will be operated by the Établissements Riquet. The prefect of Vienne, Serge Boulanger, gave permission for the construction on October 10th, which only further fueled resistance from citizens. The demonstration was organized by the collective “Bien vivre à Celle-Lévescault”.

The protesters' concerns are complex, ranging from health and environmental concerns to questions of economic viability. Intensive animal husbandry combined with a location close to nature is met with great incomprehension. Given the current situation in Europe, where bird flu is spreading and having dramatic consequences for animal husbandry, these concerns appear particularly justified. According to anses.fr, chickens can become infected through contact with wild birds or even other domestic species, while the virus spreads rapidly through various factors, such as migratory movements or poor hygiene practices.

Health risks and environmental concerns

The concerns of animal welfare organizations are not unfounded. In Germany, for example, over 500,000 healthy animals had to be killed to stop the spread of the virus. In this context, Tierschutz Austria calls for a rethink in disease control, away from the reactive culling strategy and towards preventative vaccinations. Martin Aschauer, spokesman for Tierschutz Austria, believes that industrial animal husbandry is seen as an accelerant for animal diseases. He calls for more precaution and a clear vaccination strategy against bird flu.

There are already successful vaccination programs in several countries. So get in France Ducks are being vaccinated across the board, while the Netherlands and Italy are conducting tests on laying hens and turkeys. Looking at these developments, it becomes clear that a rethink is not only necessary, but also possible.

Criticism of the model of industrial animal husbandry

Resistance like in Celle-Lévescault does not represent local opinions alone, but reflects a broad unease with factory farming. The organizations are demanding clear political signals, adjusted monitoring requirements and an end to trade barriers that make it difficult to change animal husbandry practices from the federal, state and EU governments. Madeleine Petrovic, President of Tierschutz Austria, has called for a drastic reduction in the number of animals and the promotion of species-appropriate forms of husbandry.

During the demonstration in Celle-Lévescault, the voices of citizens were not ignored. Their critical comments on the expected poor sanitary conditions for the chickens illustrate the growing determination of the participants to lead the targeted fight for an ethical animal husbandry system. The question now is: How many more protests are necessary to bring about a turnaround in the industry before it is too late?