2021 OptiChicken

Poultry farming in mobile houses has expanded considerably over the last ten years. This form of husbandry is recognized, especially with regard to the stronger realization of animal welfare, both in the field of agriculture and agribusiness, but also socially in the consumer community. Nevertheless, some problems become apparent.

- Starting from a given central stable area, the connected runs are mostly used by the animals only in the vicinity of the stable. This leads to a disproportionately high nutrient input in these areas. Thus the contamination of these areas with pathogens of any kind grows very strongly. A strong and permanent infection pressure is created. Animal health and welfare suffer from this situation. This situation is also unacceptable for water management reasons and with regard to the fundamental consideration and evaluation of nutrient flows.

- At greater distances from the barn, on the other hand, the runs often remain unused and unattractive for the animals. Here, the dangers posed by predators are suspected to be the main cause. The efficiency of pasture use is also a factor to be considered in this context. These problems are to be solved by an innovative stable and grazing concept integrated into it. The stable concept to be developed provides for a stable area in the center of a circular facility. Around this, a mobile run sector with design and service elements (feeding, drinking, predator protection) is installed, which can be periodically moved around the center with little effort. The project aims to further develop and improve fundamentally functioning mobile housing systems, taking into account the problems outlined above. The aim is to create a practical system that is clearly on the way to market maturity and can be taken up by appropriate designers and market partners.

Responsible : Boris Kulig

Funding: Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE)