3773: Legehennen in einem mobilen Stallsystem - Auslaufnutzung und Flächenzustand - [Laying hens in a mobile housing system - Use and condition of the free-range area - ]

Fürmetz, A.; Keppler, C.; Knierim, U.; Deerberg, F. and Heß, J. (2005) Legehennen in einem mobilen Stallsystem - Auslaufnutzung und Flächenzustand - [Laying hens in a mobile housing system - Use and condition of the free-range area - ]. Poster presented at 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau - Ende der Nische, Kassel, 01.03.2005 - 04.03.2005; Published in Heß, J and Rahmann, G, Eds. Ende der Nische, Beiträge zur 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau.

Summary

The use of the free-range area by laying hens housed in a mobile system and the resulting condition of the range were investigated. The free-range was used very intensively. On an average of nine complete observation days 35 % of the birds (23 – 44 % means per day) were outside the house. The maximum of animals in the free range was 77 %. 75 % (60 – 95 %) of the hens outside the house stayed in an area of 20 m around the house. This led to deteriorated conditions of the range in these areas. By moving the mobile house regularly (after 2 weeks in summer and 6 weeks in winter) a destruction of the vegetation could be avoided, while after not moving the house for three months in winter a complementary seeding became necessary.
We conclude that the use of mobile systems for poultry in conjunction with a regular change of position and sufficient area per animal can avoid destruction of the vegetation despite an intensive use of the free-range all year round.

Archive Staff Only: edit this record