Breaking the Egg: A Closer Look at Germany's Mobile Chicken Farms
Chicken coop-sourced eggs remain sought-after products, not just during springtime festivities. - Freshly Laid Chicken Eggs Not Limited to Holiday Usage
Easter's colorful eggs might remind you of the evergreen Christmas tree, but these treats are now becoming a year-round favorite for many Germans. And the demand for these eggs from free-range farming in Hesse isn't just surging during Easter season. From fixed stables with outdoor access to the more modern chicken mobiles, consumers are increasingly appreciating species-appropriate farming practices. This article dives into the world of mobile chicken farming, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and the remarkable work of farmers like Edwin Theiß of Biohof Theiss in Grünberg-Lumda.
Kickstart your year-round egg delights with Edwin Theiß and his family at the renowned "Mobile Chicken Paradise" of Biohof Theiß. Since starting with a small chicken mobile in 2012, they have expanded their operations to cater to the growing demand. Today, around 3,000 laying hens produce eggs according to Bioland guidelines, ensuring both quality and reasonable pricing for consumers.
But don't let the government discourage you. Edwin Theiss points out the high requirements they face, particularly in creating fixed parking spaces for the chicken mobiles to supply feed and water during the winter months.
The researchers at universities of Cassel and Göttingen, together with the Hessian State Office for Agriculture (LLH), have provided valuable insights into this innovative farming method through a two-year research project. They've shown that the offer of a changing outdoor area, combined with small herd sizes, significantly improves the feather condition of the hens compared to stationary farming.
The researchers also noted that the mobile chicken farming environment promotes chickens' natural behaviors, such as scratching, pecking, sand bathing, and running. These activities help reduce the risk of behavioral disorders like feather pecking and cannibalism.
With a history dating back to around 1930, mobile poultry farming is far from new, with small mobile poultry wagons allowing for the direct utilization of fallen grain during the harvest. In recent times, the number of mobile poultry farming operations in Germany has experienced a resurgence, making it particularly suitable for direct marketing.
The Federal Association of Mobile Poultry Farmers estimates that there are approximately 3.3 million poultry sites across Germany on around 3,000 farms. However, the association anticipates the number of mobile units to decrease slightly, stabilizing at around 1.5 to 2 million poultry sites due to rising energy and feed costs since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.
The higher labor input required in mobile units compared to other housing systems is justified by a willingness among consumers to pay more for improved animal welfare. The researchers found that customers are ready to pay an average of 38 to 40 cents for free-range eggs from mobile housing and around 45 cents for organic eggs from this system.
Chicken rental services, like the business model from Rüdiger Gertner, who rents chickens to people in mobile aviaries, are another exciting development in the mobile poultry farming sector. This approach highlights the potential for mobile or portable systems to enhance accessibility and community engagement with poultry farming.
Innovative poultry farming practices, like those developed by companies such as Hellmann Poultry in Germany, focus on high-quality housing systems. Big Dutchman, another major player in the industry, continues to innovate in poultry production with technological advancements. These innovations indicate a broader interest in improving efficiency and sustainability in poultry farming, paving the way for possible future advancements in mobile or modular farming systems.
- At Biohof Theiß, Edwin Theiß and his family cater to the increasing demand for year-round eggs from free-range farming in Hesse, operating a large-scale mobile chicken farm with around 3,000 laying hens.
- The two-year research project conducted by the universities of Cassel and Göttingen, along with the Hessian State Office for Agriculture (LLH), revealed that the mobile chicken farming environment significantly improves hen's feather condition and supports natural behaviors, like scratching and running.
- Rüdiger Gertner's chicken rental service, which leases chickens to individuals in mobile aviaries, is a promising development in the mobile poultry farming sector, indicating the potential for increased community engagement with poultry farming.
