Free-range hens must comply with animal welfare, water protection and the expectations of consumers, while respecting the associated technical and economic constraints.
Solution
This leaflet provides solutions for the realization, use and maintenance of providing pasture access to laying hens.
Description
This leaflet gives an overview of what elements are required for successful free-range hens, including measures in the space near the poultry house, existing solutions, implementation, and effectiveness.
Goals, advantages, disadvantages, hours of work, costs and important things to know are provided for the different areas of such a system: rotational grazing areas, area with wood chips, and the concrete/stone/gravel area. Laying hens need shelter for their safety, which can be achieved by using natural and/or artificial elements in the pasture. Both natural and artificial options are considered in the leaflet. Many solutions to common problems in free-range chickens, like how to plan grazing, which breeds are best, how to construct or alter your space, ways to counter the threat of predators and how to prevent disease and pest outbreaks. This tool is aimed at organic farmers and farm advisors in Switzerland but could also be interesting across Europe.
In order to use the comment function, you must register with the third-party provider "Disqus".
When you activate this function, your browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of the third-party provider. We would like to point out that data is transmitted to the third-party provider after activation, and the latter may set cookies that can also be used for analysis and marketing purposes. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.
Disqus
In order to use the comment function, you must register with the third-party provider "Disqus".
When you activate this function, your browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of the third-party provider. We would like to point out that data is transmitted to the third-party provider after activation, and the latter may set cookies that can also be used for analysis and marketing purposes. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.
Activate