To keep poultry farmers informed about current issues and thereby improve animal welfare on poultry farms – with this aim in mind, the Hesse State Agricultural Agency (LLH) organised several online seminars. A wide range of topics were covered.

Red bird mite

The series began with the event ‘Red bird mite – what control strategies are available?’, during which veterinarian Katharina Johannhörster reported on her experiences from her daily work. In addition to the biology of the red bird mite, routes of entry, the effects of an infestation and methods for determining the mite status on the farm, she focused in particular on various control strategies and the importance of hygiene.

Handling sick and injured animals

A particularly sensitive and relevant topic was addressed at the event “Careful handling of laying hens in cases of serious illness”. Dr Birgit Spindler from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, along with LLH poultry advisers Dr Christiane Keppler and Inga Garrelfs, explained all the key aspects.

The handling of sick and injured animals presents a particular challenge for layer farmers and carers. This makes sound specialist knowledge all the more important. The speakers provided information on the legal framework for handling sick and injured laying hens. Using numerous case studies, they highlighted which animals should be removed from a flock and what is important when designing recovery pens. In principle, the aim for all sick and injured animals should always be recovery; however, this cannot be achieved for all animals. If the animal’s health is so severely compromised that there is no prospect of recovery, it must be properly anaesthetised and euthanised to prevent further unnecessary suffering.

Protection against predators

How free-range poultry can be protected from hawks, foxes and other predators was the subject of the event ‘Protection against predators – repelling predators and effective fencing’. In this event too, participants benefited above all from the wealth of experience of the speakers Inga Garrelfs and Dr Christiane Keppler, as well as the numerous photos and case studies. These clearly demonstrated the methods that can be used to provide effective herd protection. The range of options extended from herd protection dogs, goats and other animal species, through electric fences and their professional installation, to various types of permanent fencing.

Natural behaviour of laying hens

Anyone wishing to optimise animal welfare in their own laying hen flock must understand the processes in the house and be able to identify animals exhibiting unusual behaviour. This also requires a corresponding knowledge of the animals’ behaviour. The event ‘Natural behaviour of laying hens’ imparted precisely this knowledge. Where do today’s domestic chickens originally come from? What does their natural habitat look like? What conclusions can be drawn from natural behaviour regarding modern housing systems? These and other questions were presented to the participants, who engaged in a lively discussion.

Rearing laying hens in the first weeks of life

The event “Rearing young hens – advantages and disadvantages of different rearing systems and their influence on the laying period” focused on animal-friendly husbandry, particularly during the first weeks of a laying hen’s life. This is where the foundations for healthy and productive laying hens are laid and should therefore be given special attention.

Behaviourally appropriate housing systems for broilers

In the seminar “Animal-friendly broiler rearing”, the natural behaviour of broilers was discussed, alongside a detailed explanation of the principles of animal-friendly rearing systems and typical health issues affecting broilers.

Management tool 

The series of events concluded with the seminar “Management Tool (MTool) for Improving Welfare and Animal Health in Poultry Farming”, organised in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg Agricultural Centre. During the event, which lasted just under three hours, Dr Christiane Keppler first addressed the basics of poultry anatomy and ethology, as well as the causes of behavioural abnormalities, using feather pecking as an example. In the second part, Dr Keppler presented the MTool she had developed. This is a management tool designed to help systematically identify weaknesses on the farm and take appropriate countermeasures in good time. Years of experience, particularly from model and demonstration farms specialising in animal welfare, have been incorporated into the MTool Basic Knowledge handbook and the MTool assessment cards for pullets and laying hens. Numerous photos and examples are provided to facilitate the assessment of animals on one’s own farm. The data collected can then be analysed using Excel-based tools. Further information and the option to download the MTool free of charge or order a printed version can be found at: https://www.ble-medienservice.de/0049/mtool-eine-managementhilfe-fuer-legehennenaufzucht-und-haltung.

Author: Theresa Belz, State Agricultural Agency of Hesse