The following section discusses the behaviour of the wild/original form. Any deviations or distinctive features resulting from modern methods of fattening geese are also noted.

Reproductive behaviour is not discussed in detail, as fattening geese are slaughtered before reaching sexual maturity.

The animal owner or carer must check on the animals’ welfare at least twice a day by observing them directly.

To develop a positive relationship between humans and animals, contact with the animal must take place frequently and in a calm manner, right from the very first days of life. It should be borne in mind that goslings react to calls or human voices.

When carrying out any work in the barn, the geese must be handled calmly to avoid startling the animals when approaching them and causing unnecessary agitation within the flock:

• Avoid abrupt, hasty movements
• No prolonged or sudden loud noises
• No sudden, intense light

The geese should be gently accustomed to the regular performance of certain tasks.

• The intensive imprinting behaviour of this species can be utilised, particularly when handling goslings.
• The geese must always be herded calmly and slowly. Any obstacles that could injure the geese should be removed beforehand.

Before entering the shed, the geese should be ‘warned’ by knocking on the door or speaking to them. The geese can be accustomed to your own voice.

Do not attempt to catch geese hastily from within the flock. If individual birds need to be removed from the flock (e.g. for weighing), this should be done from a small group that has previously been separated from the flock using herding boards.

When spreading litter mechanically, a person should walk in front of the litter spreader to drive the geese and remove any animals unable to walk from the path. The further procedure is set out in the section on ‘Handling individual animals’.

• Prior animal checks ensure that no animals unable to walk are present in the shed. 

The animals should be accustomed to the relevant machinery from the start of rearing.

Geese must not be caught or lifted by their legs or a wing, in order to prevent injury, particularly to their hocks.

“It is prohibited to drag or pull animals by the head, ears, horns, legs, tail or fur, or to handle them in such a way as to cause them unnecessary pain or suffering” (see Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, Annex 1, Chapter III, No 1.8(d)).

• Due to their physique, geese are usually handled gently by the neck when being caught. Lifting them by the head or neck is not permitted.

To handle individual birds or when an animal needs to be carried, the goose is lifted with both hands by the body or at the base of both wings. To carry the bird, one arm is placed around the body to support the weight and keep the wings in a closed position. The other hand grips the upper neck to prevent the goose from biting (occupational safety).

Geese must not be carried suspended upside down.

Injured, sick or suffering animals whose continued presence in the flock would cause avoidable suffering must be immediately separated from the flock for treatment in a quarantine pen (ensure unrestricted access to water and feed!) or humanely euthanised.

• See section 2.6 of the Goose Husbandry Agreement on rearing and fattening
• Dead geese must be removed from the shed or outdoor area without delay, stored appropriately in refrigerated carcass containers and disposed of in accordance with regulations.

The rearing of fattening geese is divided into the rearing phase and the subsequent fattening phase.

The rearing of goslings covers the first four weeks of life. This usually takes place in the barn. However, in dry and warm weather, goslings just a few days old can already be taken outdoors for a few hours at a time.

This is followed by the fattening of the geese. Here, fattening methods are distinguished according to the duration of fattening and divided into early fattening (up to approx. 9 weeks of age), medium fattening (up to approx. 16 weeks of age) and late fattening (up to 21–32 weeks of age).

The relative humidity in the barn should never fall below 55%. Levels above 70% should be avoided.

Fattening geese are usually kept in naturally ventilated houses. They are relatively tolerant of draughts. However, air speeds exceeding 0.3 m/s at animal height should not be exceeded.

In forced-ventilated houses, the minimum air flow rate should be 4.5 m³/kg live weight/hour to ensure adequate ventilation in summer.

The maximum levels of harmful gases are shown in the table below and should not be exceeded (Goose Husbandry Agreement, as of 03/2020):

Lighting in the barn should be uniform throughout. The lighting schedule may vary during the acclimatisation period in the first three days. It is recommended that the light period be increased to 24 hours during the first few days to allow the animals to become accustomed to the feeding and watering facilities. Thereafter, a day/night rhythm as close to natural as possible should be maintained, and a continuous period of darkness of at least 8 hours must be ensured, provided that there is a deviation from the natural, seasonally varying periods of darkness.

Emergency lighting of max. 2 lux can serve as a guide at night.

As waterfowl, access to water is vital for geese. Open drinking troughs must therefore be provided at all times, even in outdoor enclosures*. Access to an outdoor run and to water for bathing is necessary to allow the geese, as waterfowl, to behave in accordance with their biological needs. Where such access is not possible, the geese must be provided with a sufficient number of water facilities, which must be designed so that the water covers at least the head and can be taken in with the beak, enabling the geese to pour water over their bodies without difficulty. Every goose must have the opportunity to submerge its head under water (see Art. 11(2) of the Council of Europe recommendations). A water supply adapted to the animal’s development must be provided by the start of fattening at the latest.

• In the view of the German Animal Welfare Association, a bathing facility must be provided to which the geese have constant access and in which they can swim or at least submerge themselves up to their chests. However, this bathing facility may be located indoors if this is necessary from a disease control perspective (see Section 3 of the Avian Influenza Control Ordinance).

^{* In accordance with Section 3(2) of the Avian Influenza Ordinance, it must be ensured that the animals are not watered using surface water to which wild birds have access.}

The recommended usable trough side length and the recommended animal-to-feeding area ratio for batch feeding are set out in the table below (Goose Husbandry Agreement, as of March 2020).

It is recommended that foals be offered additional feed in feeding troughs on the floor during the first few days of life.

As the animals grow very quickly in the first three weeks, intensive feeding is necessary. The energy content of the starter feed is approximately 11.5 MJ ME and the crude protein content is around 20%. From the fourth or fifth week of life, the crude protein content is reduced to approximately 16%.

The animals and their housing conditions should be checked several times a day, but at least twice a day. Particularly in the first few days after the foals have been brought into the stables, intensive and attentive care is required, with more frequent checks, for which sufficient time should be set aside.

Important parameters include (see also the chapter on animal health parameters):

• Distribution of animals in the barn
• Feed and water intake behaviour
• Movement
• Condition of the plumage
• Faecal consistency
• Condition of the eyes and nostrils

Fresh straw must be added daily. In rearing, this is usually done by hand.

Water and feeding equipment must be checked daily to ensure they are in working order, and any animal losses must be recorded. Furthermore, it would be helpful to document daily feed and water intake in order to identify irregularities in consumption at an early stage. These can, for example, indicate that the animals are unwell. In practice, however, recording feed and water consumption is often difficult, particularly on smaller farms.

The animals should be accustomed to farm noises and machinery, such as the wheel loader, at an early stage. Day-old chicks show less fear than animals that arrive at the farm at a later stage.

If several age groups are kept on the farm, younger animals should be attended to before older ones, and healthy flocks before those showing signs of illness or potential disease, in order to minimise the risk of spreading pathogens.

This includes tasks that are not carried out on a daily basis but are performed with a certain degree of regularity during or following a fattening cycle. These include, for example, the cleaning and disinfection work required during the service period (see Chapter 9), the maintenance of the outdoor run (see Chapter 7), care provided by the vet, and examinations to be carried out, such as drinking water tests when using water from the farm’s own well.

Vaccinations can be used to protect against various infectious diseases. Unlike chickens and turkeys, there is currently no compulsory vaccination requirement for geese. It is standard practice to vaccinate parent birds before the start of the laying period (e.g. against parvovirus) in order to protect young goslings through maternal antibodies. However, depending on the risk of infection and the individual farm structure (e.g. different age groups, various poultry species on the farm), vaccination may also be advisable for fattening geese. Vaccination programmes should always be developed in consultation with the vet responsible for the flock.

• Losses throughout the entire rearing cycle (up to 16 weeks of age) should be less than 5%.
  • During the rearing phase (weeks 1–4), losses should be below 2%.

•  Basis: Check the barn at least twice a day
  • Careful observation of the animals, for which sufficient time must be allowed
  • Pay particular attention to areas where weaker animals tend to congregate (e.g. corners of the barn and areas under or next to feeding/watering facilities)

→ Early detection of sick and injured animals

• In order to decide whether an animal should be removed from the herd, taken to a holding pen or euthanised, it must first be caught and examined.
• Once the animal has been caught, a decision must be made as to whether it can remain in the herd, whether there is a ‘reasonable cause’ for culling, or whether the animal can be moved to the isolation pen and returned to the group after an appropriate recovery period or treatment.
• If there is a prospect of recovery, the animal must be taken immediately to a holding pen with dry and soft bedding or a soft surface.
• Any animal which, based on a professional assessment of its physical condition, is unlikely to survive must – in accordance with the applicable Animal Welfare Slaughter Ordinance (TierSchlV) – be stunned in a manner consistent with animal welfare and killed immediately, and must not be placed in a separation pen.
• Where necessary, immediate measures must be taken for treatment and, where appropriate, a veterinarian must be consulted (Section 4(1) sentence 1 no. 3 TierSchNutztV).
• Where necessary, measures such as the direct provision of water and, where appropriate, feed, as well as wound care using covering, wound-healing sprays (e.g. zinc sprays) or treatment with further medication, must be provided for the animals in the isolation pen.
• Close monitoring of the course of the disease is required, which, depending on the circumstances, should exceed the minimum monitoring frequency of ‘twice daily’.
• Any animal in a quarantine pen whose health, according to expert assessment, shows no improvement within a reasonable period of time must be anaesthetised and killed in accordance with animal welfare standards. The animal keeper must ensure that the person carrying out the killing of the animals possesses up-to-date knowledge and skills relevant to animal welfare – including humane methods of stunning and killing (see Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act).
• Reintegration: Isolated animals should be allowed to socialise again immediately after full recovery.

• Already available / can be set up immediately if required
• Space that can be expanded if required
• Optimal supply of food and water
  • Fully accessible, even for animals with limited mobility
  • Unrestricted access to fresh feed and water in clean troughs / drinking troughs
• Sturdy partition from the herd
• Good hygiene, regular cleaning of the facilities and surfaces
• Regular replacement of bedding
• Optimal ambient temperature for the animal, free from draughts
• In isolation pens, the requirements of the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TierSchNutztV) must be observed.
• Injured geese or geese that do not pose a risk of infection should not be placed alone in a isolation pen.

• Where an animal must be killed, the legal basis for this is provided by the Animal Welfare Act (TSchG), Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, and the Animal Slaughter Ordinance (TierSchlV).
• ‘Emergency killing’ is defined as ‘the killing of injured animals or animals suffering from a disease that causes severe pain or suffering, where there is no other practicable means of alleviating such pain or suffering’ (Article 2(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009).
• A vertebrate animal may only be killed under effective pain relief (stunning) in a state of unconsciousness and insensitivity, or otherwise, insofar as is reasonable under the given circumstances, only in a manner that avoids pain. (Section 4(1) TierSchG)
• Persons who, on a professional or commercial basis, regularly anaesthetise or kill vertebrates for the purpose of killing must provide the competent authority with proof of competence. (Section 4(1a) Animal Welfare Act)
• Knowledge and skills regarding legal and technical requirements and methods of killing are necessary.
• The animal keeper must ensure that the person carrying out the killing of the animals possesses the necessary expertise, including the requisite skills.
• There is a reasonable ground for emergency killing if
  • the animal has been suffering from severe, incurable pain for a prolonged period.
  • the animal is suffering from a serious illness with no prospect of recovery.
  • the animal is unable to take in food or water independently and is therefore no longer able to care for itself.

Geese identified as requiring slaughter must be killed as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering. The goose to be slaughtered must be handled calmly and gently until the anaesthetic takes effect, to prevent the animal from becoming agitated. Every goose must be stunned before slaughter. Immediately after successful stunning, the animal must be killed using a suitable method (the standard practice is neck breaking). The functionality of the equipment to be used must be checked before each use. Stunning and slaughter should not be carried out in the middle of the flock and, where possible, without causing distress to the other animals.

Procedure

1. Capturing the animal to be killed
2. Restraining
   • Restricting the animal’s movement so that it cannot evade the procedure and the stunning can be carried out safely. From an animal welfare perspective, a suitable area outside the barn (e.g. an antechamber) should be used for stunning and killing.
3. Stunning
   • Every vertebrate must be rendered unconscious and insensitive to pain before slaughter.
   • The effectiveness of the stunning must be checked before killing:
     • No breathing
     • Pupils dilated / no blinking
     • Touching the eye elicits no reaction (no longer any eyelid closure reflex)
     • Neck muscles flaccid
     • Beak opens easily
     • No vocalisation
     • No directed movements
     • No vigorous wing flapping
4. Killing
   • Killing must follow immediately after stunning.
   • Killing must be carried out competently and safely, without delay and without causing fear or pain to the animal concerned.
   • The onset of death is carefully monitored:
     • A palpable gap between the head and cervical vertebrae and
     • No eyelid reflex (the eye remains open when a finger is brought close to it)
     • No breathing
     • No directed movements
   • If breathing, eye reflexes or directed movements are observed after killing, the killing procedure must be repeated (if necessary, after re-anaesthetising – see Checking anaesthesia)
5. Disposal
   • It must be ensured that the animal is dead before the carcass is disposed of.
   • Carcasses must be disposed of immediately and securely in the carcass storage facility.

Apart from a few full-time farms in the regions of Germany typically associated with goose farming, goose fattening in this country is predominantly carried out as a sideline to farming for direct marketing, with the animals reared outdoors. A sufficiently large outdoor grazing area should be provided for this purpose. From the 9th week of life at the latest, when the geese are fully feathered, they can be reared exclusively on pasture. A practical approach is to allow young goslings access to a green and dry outdoor area for a few hours at a time from as early as the 2nd or 3rd week of life, provided the weather is good. Here, the young birds find fresh greenery and herbs such as chickweed, which they readily eat. Once the geese are fully feathered, they can also be kept outdoors at night and during periods of bad weather. However, it is advisable to house the geese at night in a familiar, covered shelter with bedding. According to Lower Saxony’s ‘Goose Husbandry Agreement’, an outdoor area of at least 10 m² (permanent pasture) per animal should be available; in a rotational grazing system, at least 4 m². Programmes such as ‘Geese from Farm-Raised Free-Range’ even require 15 m² of vegetated and structured area per animal. The NEULAND guidelines for species-appropriate goose husbandry stipulate a minimum of 20 m² per animal for rotational and static grazing.

The pasture/outdoor area must be available to the animals throughout the entire fattening period and can contribute significantly to a needs-based and cost-effective diet for the animals. Accordingly, particular attention should be paid to the maintenance and design of the outdoor area. With intensive use of the pasture by 500 or more animals per hectare of agricultural land (LF), there is increasing wear and tear on the sward. 50–70 m² of grassland per goose is required to keep them on a fully vegetated area all year round. The requirements for a good and robust goose pasture are shown in Table 3.

The goose spends most of its time outdoors. Even during the final fattening phase, the goose should remain in its familiar surroundings. If the goose has been accustomed to free-range conditions throughout its life, fattening the animals in a shed is difficult; similarly, separating the group in autumn can lead to problems. As geese react very sensitively to changes in location, their environment should not be altered. Although final fattening in a shed is possible, the transition from free-range to purely shed-based rearing causes the animals enormous stress. The aim should therefore be to provide the animals with optimal conditions on pasture all year round.

A key prerequisite for a healthy, productive goose flock – alongside optimal housing conditions and the best possible provision of feed and water – is to prevent, as far as possible, the introduction of pathogens and their spread within the flock. The necessary measures to be implemented on the farm are collectively referred to as ‘biosecurity measures’. These include hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) as well as structural measures (e.g. paved forecourts and access routes, fencing, maintenance of the facilities and building fabric of sheds, hygiene sluices) and various management measures (e.g. wearing protective clothing, order and cleanliness on the farm, control of visitor traffic, pest control, handling of sick and dead animals).

Biosecurity measures must be planned on a farm-by-farm basis and implemented consistently on a daily basis to ensure a good biosecurity status. It is advisable to draw up a biosecurity plan and coordinate it with the attending veterinarian. Where there is a high risk of infection, the biosecurity plan can be supplemented by vaccinating the geese to prevent clinical disease in the flock (see Chapter 4, Vaccinations).

The farm’s operational structure also affects biosecurity status: the more contact a flock of poultry has with other animals, the greater the risk of pathogens being introduced. Farms with multiple animal species (particularly cattle and pigs) should ensure strict separation of the housing and care of different animal species. Different age groups within the goose flock should also be strictly separated from one another to minimise the risk of pathogen transmission.

It is impossible to completely protect free-range geese from exposure to pathogens. However, several bird species are often susceptible to a particular pathogen, and other animal species can also transmit pathogens to geese, albeit less frequently. Measures that prevent geese from coming into contact with other animals therefore help to improve biosecurity, even in free-range systems.

• No open-air areas in the immediate vicinity of bird resting or breeding areas
• Fencing of the open-air area
• Wild bird-proof feeding (e.g. covered) and watering points
• Regular cleaning of feeding and watering facilities (to remove any potential contamination with pathogens from wild birds or similar)
• Entry into the animals’ living area only with protective clothing (minimum: boot covers or a change of footwear)

Even with the consistent implementation of the biosecurity measures listed, the introduction of pathogens can never be ruled out with 100% certainty. In addition to measures to prevent the introduction of pathogens, hygiene measures that prevent their proliferation and spread within the flock and its immediate surroundings are therefore extremely important for maintaining good health status in productive flocks of geese.

Different pathogens exhibit varying levels of resistance in the environment (for example, Riemerella bacteria die off within a few days in the environment, whereas worm eggs can persist in outdoor runs for years). Organic material (animal excrement, feed residues, litter, feathers), moisture and warm ambient temperatures favour the survival of pathogens. Thorough cleaning can reduce the bacterial load on the cleaned surfaces by up to three orders of magnitude (to one thousandth of the original load). Thorough cleaning is also a prerequisite for successful disinfection, as many disinfectants react with proteins (e.g. those contained in excrement, feed residues and blood), which significantly reduces their effectiveness on heavily soiled surfaces. By combining cleaning and disinfection, the bacterial load can be reduced by up to six orders of magnitude, i.e. ideally to one millionth of the original load. However, even disinfection does not achieve a germ-free, sterile environment.

Once the geese have been moved out of the shed, it should be thoroughly cleaned before being restocked. Particularly in seasonal goose fattening, although longer periods of vacancy do help to reduce the risk of infection, cleaning should nevertheless be carried out promptly after the animals have been moved out or slaughtered to prevent the spread of any pathogens that may be present.

Cleaning begins with removing manure from the empty stable. After dry cleaning, the stable should be swept clean and then wet cleaned. In cases of heavy soiling, it is advisable to use warm water (ideally 40 °C) and cleaning agents after thoroughly soaking the soiled surfaces. High-pressure cleaners are commonly used for effective wet cleaning (Caution: unsuitable nozzles, insufficient water flow, incorrect spray angles or an insufficient spray distance can lead to material damage and the widespread distribution of dirt particles/germs!).

The amount of cleaning agents required can be significantly reduced by pre-cleaning to remove coarse dirt or by thorough soaking. Any residual cleaning agents must then be thoroughly rinsed off with clean water to prevent surface corrosion and ensure the disinfection process is not compromised.

The following must be cleaned: livestock housing (from top to bottom), livestock equipment (including feed and water lines from the inside), tools and vehicles, herding aids, loading ramps and other equipment in direct contact with the animals, livestock housing entrance areas and forecourts, feed storage containers and, finally, the equipment used for cleaning and the protective clothing worn during the process.

Cleaning is considered successful when all surfaces and interior fittings, containers, feed and water lines in the barn are clean and the waste water no longer contains any dirt particles. The wash water used contains small amounts of nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing substances and is therefore defined as liquid manure.

Disinfection without prior thorough cleaning is ineffective: “You cannot disinfect dirt!” However, dirt is not always visible – it is precisely invisible residues (e.g. in uneven surfaces, cracks and small openings) that severely limit the effectiveness of disinfectants and allow germs to survive until the next time the stable is occupied. Disinfection should therefore take place as soon as possible after cleaning to prevent further contamination (e.g. from dust).

The barn must be completely dry before disinfection. Wet or damp areas ‘dilute’ the disinfectant and impair its effectiveness (dilution effect).

No disinfectant kills all types of germs and is suitable for every use. In the event of disease or increased risk of infection during the fattening cycle, it is therefore advisable to discuss the details of the planned disinfection with the attending vet. As a general rule, only disinfectants tested and listed by the DVG should be used. Products bearing the DLG quality mark have also been tested for material compatibility, among other things.

DVG list

The concentration recommended by the manufacturer must be adhered to during application. It should be noted that different concentrations are required for different ambient temperatures and that certain disinfectants are ineffective or only partially effective in cold conditions (cold-induced inactivation, e.g. aldehydes). During the cold season, peroxides or chlorine solutions should therefore be used in preference. Application can be carried out using spraying, misting or aerosol methods.

As a general rule, 0.4 l of working solution per m^² of surface area to be disinfected is required; for stable fittings, at least 30% extra must be allowed for. The contact time for most disinfectants should not be less than 2 to 4 hours, even if shorter times are specified by the manufacturer. Ideally, the disinfected livestock housing should then be left to air and rest ‘empty’ for 4 to 5 days.

• The hygiene airlock must be fully operational at all times.
• Daily inspection of the supply equipment and cleaning where necessary
• Flush the drinking system after each administration of veterinary medicines or feed supplements
• Immediate removal of dead animals from the barn, proper storage of carcasses (see Chapter 6)
• Bedding maintenance (checking moisture levels, adding fresh bedding and, if necessary, mucking out heavily soiled areas)
• Clean soiled work equipment
• Clean soiled work clothing (especially footwear)
• Clean and disinfect equipment (including vehicles where applicable) before using them in another barn
• Regular checks for rodent and pest infestations and control measures where necessary
• Keep the barn entrance, forecourt and access routes clean
• Keep vegetation in the area around the barn to a minimum

Avian influenza is a fatal disease affecting birds. Chickens and turkeys are particularly severely affected, whilst geese and ducks exhibit milder symptoms.

The control of avian influenza is regulated by applicable EU law and, in Germany, additionally by the Avian Influenza Ordinance (GPVO). Among other things, the Ordinance stipulates that if mortality rates exceed 2% within 24 hours, or if there is a significant increase in animal losses in flocks consisting solely of geese over a period of more than four days, avian influenza must be ruled out as the cause by a vet (Section 4 GPVO).

To prevent the spread of the virus and to prevent it from entering one’s own flock, it is important to understand the routes of transmission and to take appropriate precautionary measures.

One of the most important measures is to prevent contact between farmed poultry and wild birds and their droppings. Open water bodies and feed provided in outdoor runs, for example, can attract infected wild birds. If the geese then feed and drink from the same places, they can become infected with the virus. Geese must therefore only be fed outdoors in areas that are inaccessible to wild birds, and must not be watered from surface water to which wild birds have access (Section 3 GPVO).

The pathogen, which is excreted by infected animals in their droppings as well as in secretions from the nose and eyes, can also find its way into the barn via contaminated footwear or clothing. Hygiene chambers at the barn entrances, where clothing and footwear are changed and hands are washed before entering the barn, play a significant role in reducing the risk of introduction. Vehicles that drive across the farmyard or even into the barn, such as the litter spreader, pose a high risk of introducing the pathogen. Therefore, forecourts and paths should be paved and, like the vehicles, cleaned regularly and disinfected where necessary.

Feed or the straw bedding itself can also lead to the unintended introduction of the virus into the barn if these are not stored safely away from wild birds. The GPVO therefore stipulates that feed, bedding and other items with which poultry may come into contact must be stored in a manner inaccessible to wild birds (Section 6(3) GPVO).

Straw or bedding must be stored at least under cover; ideally, it should be stored in enclosed premises. Straw that must be stored outdoors must be covered with a sturdy plastic sheet and/or a net.

In particular, the risk of HPAI introduction is higher in free-range systems compared to purely indoor housing systems, and appropriate precautionary measures must be taken. If the competent authority assesses the risk of HPAI occurrence as high, a mandatory housing order may therefore be issued (Section 13(1) GPVO).

However, if geese accustomed to grazing must be kept indoors for animal health reasons, the following animal welfare issues are to be expected:

• Refusal to eat or drink for several days, apathy
• Crowding together (crushing)
• Occurrence of feather pecking and cannibalism
• Stress-induced moulting
• Increased susceptibility to disease
• Increased mortality
• Increased stress for the birds due to more frequent human contact during daily care tasks in the barn
• Care tasks in the house (e.g. bedding).

Therefore, an exemption should be applied for from the competent veterinary authority in accordance with Section 13(3) of the Avian Influenza Ordinance. To mitigate the aforementioned problems, anyone who is able to do so should move the animals into a barn or similar facility at night so that they can become accustomed to it.

Irrespective of this, every animal keeper should have an individual ‘animal disease contingency plan’ in place, setting out the measures to be taken in the event of a compulsory housing order and how the requirements of Section 13(3) sentence 1 no. 2 of the Avian Influenza Ordinance can be met in the event of an exemption being granted. Further information on drawing up an individual animal disease contingency plan can be found in Annex 5 of the Goose Husbandry Agreement.

The housing orders issued during recent outbreaks of avian influenza repeatedly confirm the high levels of stress experienced by the animals when they are required to remain indoors. In the event of a housing order, far-reaching measures such as more frequent checks on the animals and the provision of additional enrichment materials (e.g. fresh straw or maize silage), alongside sufficient space, are therefore of the utmost importance.