Laying hens in mobile housing are now a common sight everywhere, but an increasing number of farmers are also considering mobile housing for broiler production. But what needs to be taken into account regarding animal welfare in mobile broiler housing? This question was addressed by the ‘Broiler Production in Mobile Housing’ animal welfare model and demonstration project. The findings from this project, as well as the practical experiences of a livestock farmer, were presented at a seminar organised by the Focus Animal Welfare network.

Sandra Kronenberg from the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences recommends, particularly to newcomers to mobile chicken fattening, that purchased birds aged 3–4 weeks be placed in the mobile housing. Mobile fattening works best with slow-growing breeds, dual-purpose chickens or pedigree poultry. Fast-growing birds, on the other hand, are generally unsuitable for mobile rearing, as experience shows they are too immobile and, in terms of animal health, more susceptible to changes in weather.

To ensure that the broilers make use of the outdoor run, the mobile house should ideally be at ground level. This is because the birds tend to be reluctant to use ramps. It should also be noted that the access hatches need to be of a certain width. If the hatch is too narrow, the broilers will become congested when entering or leaving. Furthermore, observations during the project have shown that broilers are more likely to notice the morning opening of the flaps when the hatches are large.

Run design

Data collected on outdoor run usage during the project has shown that the runs are used primarily in the morning and evening hours. Broiler chickens particularly like to stay in the shade on hot days. Therefore, care should be taken when designing the outdoor run to ensure that sufficient shade is available. However, in the case of shade-providing trees, it should be borne in mind that these can also offer a good perch for birds of prey. Another essential feature of the outdoor run is sand baths. Either artificial sand baths can be provided, or the ground of the run should be such that the birds can create their own sand baths.

Animal assessment

As part of the project, the animals were also assessed. The following were recorded:

• Injuries to the body,
• Dirt,
• foot pad health,
• changes in plumage,
• the condition of the breast plumage
• breast blisters and changes to the breastbone

The surveys have shown that changes to the footpads and soiling can also be a problem in mobile chicken fattening. The severity of the changes is influenced by many factors, such as rearing practices, house type and litter management. However, particularly with regard to footpad health, good management can still bring about improvements even during the course of the batch, reports the expert. To counteract feather pecking and cannibalism, both speakers advise keeping an eye on humidity and temperature. Relocation in particular is a stress factor for the birds, which can encourage the occurrence of feather pecking and cannibalism. Here, it helps to mix rearing and finishing feed. In addition, the practitioner Anne Körkel advises feeding maize silage. Furthermore, based on experience, it makes sense not to set the light intensity in the barn too high during the first few days after moving the birds in, and to distract the birds with enrichment materials at the first signs of behavioural disorders.

Ventilation

With regard to ventilation, it should be noted that humidity in mobile housing is often too high in autumn and winter, which quickly leads to damp bedding and poor air quality due to harmful gases. Furthermore, temperatures are often too high in summer. Accordingly, care should be taken to ensure adequate air exchange in mobile housing units in both summer and winter. Should temperatures rise sharply in summer, it helps to move the mobile housing unit into the shade early or to cool the unit from the outside by spraying it with water.

Practical experience

Anne Körkel is herself an enthusiastic mobile coop farmer. She has been marketing her birds since 2015 under the name Annes(h)nauer and shares her experiences with the rearing and marketing of mobile-reared broilers. She keeps the Ranger Classic breed herself. These are slaughtered at 10–11 weeks of age and a weight of approx. 2.3 kg. Consequently, the farmer manages six rotations per year. The birds are kept on a meadow orchard, which provides sufficient shade in summer. To prevent excessive nutrient input into the soil, the mobile pens are moved after each rotation. The area where the pen and run were located is then tilled, reseeded and left fallow for a year. This allows the sward and soil to recover. Furthermore, the outdoor run is divided into plots to ensure the birds are well distributed across the available space even during the cycle. Anne Körkel mixes the feed herself, taking care to ensure the grains are not ground but merely crushed. Otherwise, the feed would be too fine for the chickens.

Marketing

Anne Körkel herself says of her marketing approach: “I have the least consumer-friendly marketing method I know,” and yet she enjoys strong customer loyalty and satisfaction. Körkel sells her produce exclusively direct from the farm. After each rotation, the broiler chickens are slaughtered in a mobile slaughter unit right on the farm. Körkel handles the cutting and packaging herself. The meat is always sold fresh after slaughter for a period of 1.5 days. This means that customers receive their pre-ordered birds chilled rather than frozen. Pre-orders are placed via an online form on her website or via WhatsApp. In total, Anne Körkel sells 87% of her broiler chickens directly, with only 13% of the slaughtered birds going to retailers. However, she doesn’t just sell the finished carcass to her customers; Anne Körkel prioritises customer engagement and regularly sends out newsletters covering current topics from the farm. Furthermore, any customer can drop by and see the farming conditions for themselves.

Anne Körkel advises anyone interested that mobile fattening is not something you can do on the side. This is because the animals need to be kept a close eye on. When it comes to marketing, you should think big right from the start. Simple systems involving various Excel spreadsheets take too much time, which is why Körkel relies on a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. This allows her, for example, to see straight away how many animals have already been sold. In addition, working hours should be accurately recorded so that areas for improvement can be identified. The infrastructure for the barn should also not be overlooked during planning. At Körkel’s farm, water and electricity are supplied via mains connections even in the mobile barn. The farmer has laid electricity and water connections across the meadow at 30-metre intervals. This means she has no problems supplying her animals, whether in summer or winter.

Author: Regine Revermann, Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture