Raising facility for raising poultry animals, and related poultry raising house, poultry animal raising method and use

Abstract

To provide a raising facility for raising poultry animals.SOLUTION: A raising facility (2) includes: a floor (4), in particular a mesh floor (4), providing a dwelling surface to laying hens; and at least one dwelling surface or shelf (8), in particular formed as a mesh floor, detachably arranged above the floor (4) for raising chicks.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to housing facilities for providing poultry animals with flooring, particularly mesh flooring, which provides a dwelling surface for laying hens. [Background technology]

[0002] Rearing facilities of this type are known from the prior art, for example from EP 3824726 A1. The rearing facilities are used for rearing laying hens for egg production purposes and usually comprise a mesh floor. The mesh floor is made in the form of large meshes, for example as a wire mesh floor, and is often inclined. The inclination of the mesh floor allows the system eggs to roll off. This makes it possible to collect the eggs by hand.

[0003] In this type of housing it is known to have fixed feeding and drinking troughs in such a way that they are well reached by the fully grown animals. This type of housing is not suitable for rearing chicks. The slope of the floor is not suitable for chicks, as is the width of the mesh on the floors that are commonly used. There is also a high risk of injury to the chicks. The feeding and drinking troughs are not well reached by the chicks.

[0004] Rearing systems for rearing chicks or hens, respectively, are further known from the prior art. Prior art rearing systems are provided with a fine mesh floor arranged approximately horizontally and allow adapting the height of the watering vessel lines and the feeding vessels in the case of chicks or hens.

[0005] From the prior art, in rearing systems designed for laying hens, a separation between rearing and egg production is known. Said separation entails the need for rehousing between rearing and rearing of productive laying hens. This kind of rehousing is complicated and can have a negative effect on the performance of the animals, and furthermore, carbon dioxide may be released due to the transportation required. Furthermore, rehousing often lacks consideration for the animals during transportation, the need to capture and load them, and the exposure of the animals to an unfamiliar environment, where there are temperature changes, new group compositions and hierarchies, and changes in daily routines. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome as far as possible the drawbacks encountered in the prior art, in particular to provide a rearing facility for rearing poultry animals, in which the stress caused by the rehousing process is reduced, the welfare and performance of the animals is maintained and overall transport costs are reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing a rearing facility with at least one living surface or shelf for rearing chicks, which is removably arranged above the floor, the living surface and / or shelf being in particular configured as a mesh floor.

[0008] The invention makes use of the knowledge that by using a removable shelf for rearing chicks arranged above the floor, one-day-old chicks can be reared in the rearing facility until the start of the laying season, in order to use the same rearing facility for laying hens after the shelf is removed. In other words, the invention is based on the idea of ​​temporarily configuring a rearing facility optimized for rearing laying hens. The temporary configuration of said rearing facility consists in configuring the rearing facility by means of the shelf to be suitable for rearing chicks as well, without penalizing the later laying operation. The shelf is removed for the laying operation.

[0009] This eliminates the need for rehousing between rearing and layer operations, thus improving animal welfare, avoiding possible performance losses due to the stress associated with rehousing, and reducing overall transport costs as well as CO2 and carbon footprints.

[0010] In addition to improving animal welfare, egg producers will be able to use their rearing facilities to raise day-old chicks with relatively minor modifications, simplifying the start-up of chick rearing. Improved animal welfare will further encourage the sale of the eggs produced.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the floor is inclined at an inclination angle to the horizontal. The shelves have a smaller inclination angle than the floor. The shelves are preferably arranged horizontally. A horizontal arrangement of the shelves has been shown to be particularly suitable for rearing chicks.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the breeding facility comprises a feeding facility with a feeding container. The shelf is suspended or attached to the feeding container. In this way, the shelf can be fixed to the feeding container more easily and more reliably. At the same time, it is more reliably ensured that the feeding container is easily accessible to the chicks located on the shelf. If the shelf is arranged horizontally, it is also possible for the shelf to rest completely on the feeding container. Furthermore, it is avoided that the chicks get stuck and get injured.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the floor and the shelf are formed as a mesh floor. The width of the mesh of the shelf is different from the width of the mesh of the floor. In particular, the shelf has a smaller mesh width than the floor. The combination of the mesh width and the essentially horizontally arranged shelf makes it difficult for the feed arranged on the shelf to be scraped off in an inclined direction. Furthermore, the small mesh width more reliably reduces the possibility of the animals getting caught and injured over the entire rearing period. In particular, injuries due to stepping through a too coarse mesh floor are prevented. With regard to the floor, a coarse mesh more reliably enables a corresponding self-cleaning during the egg-laying operation.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the shelf is formed in several parts, in particular in three parts. Due to the division of the shelf, the several parts of the shelf can be easily attached and detached. As the shelf is formed in several parts, each part of the shelf can be particularly advantageously connected to or suspended from the feeding container. This prevents the chicks from getting pinched under the feeding container.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the shelf is formed in one part and in particular extends over the entire width of the corresponding area of ​​the breeding facility. According to an alternative embodiment, the shelf can be formed laterally insertable like a drawer. In this respect, the shelf can be inserted in one or more parts, in particular from an external or internal passage.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the breeding facility comprises an entry tray. The entry tray is arranged next to the steeply inclined end of the floor. A rolling gap is formed between the floor and the entry tray. The rolling gap is dimensioned so that the eggs can roll between the floor and the entry tray. The shelf part has an essentially horizontal area in the installed state and an essentially vertically extending area in the installed state. The essentially vertically extending area at least partially, in particular completely, closes the rolling gap. This avoids the possibility of the chicks getting stuck in the rolling area.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the feeding facility comprises at least one water container and / or at least one food container, which are height-adjustable. The water container and / or the food container are height-adjustable so that they are accessible from the floor and from the shelf. In this way, water and food can be more reliably supplied to the chicks or hens at different growth stages and also during productive egg-laying operations. The water container and the food container can be installed so that they are accessible to the chicks from the shelf. Furthermore, the water container and the food container can be adapted to the continuing growth of the animals and can be configured so that they are accessible to the fully grown animals even after removal of the shelf.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the rearing facility comprises at least one nest and / or egg rolling system and at least one safety gate. The at least one safety gate is removably arranged in the rearing facility and is configured to close the nest and / or egg rolling system. In this way, the chicks are initially reliably accommodated only in a limited area of ​​the rearing facility, where they are in the conditions necessary for rearing, i.e. in particular without any risk of getting caught, with easy availability of food and water and with a shelf section having a corresponding mesh width. As the chicks or hens grow, the safety gate can be removed. This allows further areas of the rearing facility, for example the nests and the egg rolling system, to be utilized. The chicks cannot reach this area and are therefore effectively protected from injuries, for example by getting caught in the egg rolling system or the nest. According to one embodiment, the rearing facility comprises a gate on the aisle side, which is configured to block the chicks from entering or leaving the aisle.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the rearing facility comprises perches, which are configured to be height adjustable, and which can be adjusted in particular during rearing of the chicks such that there is no risk of them being pinched between further parts of the rearing facility and the perches.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the breeding facility comprises at least one transverse partition with ventilation openings, the ventilation openings arranged next to a shelf having a smaller opening diameter than the ventilation openings not arranged next to a shelf. By reducing the opening diameter of the ventilation openings in the region of the shelf, the risk of the chicks getting stuck in the ventilation opening and also the risk of being injured at the ventilation opening is more reliably reduced.

[0021] The organization of the rearing of day-old chicks and the subsequent laying-hen operation is preferably carried out in three stages. In the first stage, the chicks are placed on the shelves. One or more shelves are preferably suspended in the feeding troughs. The feeding troughs and the perches are moved to the upper position. The corresponding area of ​​the feeding installation is closed by an external gate. This area is also called the level.

[0022] As the chicks grow into hens, the shelves are removed and the perches or feeding troughs, respectively, are placed in the lower position, and the exterior gate is kept closed, which is arranged in the direction of the internal passage so as not to block further areas of the rearing facility, in particular the floors arranged above the aforementioned areas with sloping floors.

[0023] In the third phase, the rearing facility is configured so that work with egg-laying hens can take place. For this purpose, the external gate is opened and the gate towards the internal passage is also removed. In this way, the nests, the egg rolling system and further areas of the rearing facility are now available. The rearing facility in this configuration is essentially similar to the existing rearing facility for egg-laying hens.

[0024] The present invention has been described above in relation to a rearing facility. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a poultry house for rearing poultry animals, in particular a laying hen house, with a rearing facility. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem with respect to a poultry house, in which a rearing facility is formed according to the above-mentioned aspects. The poultry house utilizes the same advantages and preferred embodiments as the rearing facility according to the invention and vice versa. In this respect, reference is made to the above description, the content of which is included herein.

[0025] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for rearing poultry. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem with respect to said method, which comprises the following steps: providing a rearing facility according to at least one of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, housing poultry animals, in particular day-old chicks, on the shelves, rearing the chicks to become laying hens, removing the shelves after rearing the chicks, and rearing the laying hens on the floor of the rearing facility.

[0026] In summary, the method according to the invention allows one-day-old chicks to be reared in a rearing facility until the start of the laying season, after which the same rearing facility can be used for layer operations, thereby avoiding rehousing between rearing and layer operations, thus reducing stress on the animals, reducing transportation costs and carbon dioxide emissions, and improving overall animal welfare. The method furthermore utilises the same advantages and preferred embodiments as the rearing facility and poultry house according to the invention, and vice versa. In this respect, reference is made to the above description, the content of which is included herein.

[0027] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a rearing facility according to at least one of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments in a poultry house for rearing poultry animals, in particular layer hens or day-old chicks. The poultry house is preferably according to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment. The use also makes use of the same advantages and preferred embodiments as the rearing facility, the poultry house and the method according to the invention, and vice versa. In this respect, reference is made to the above description, the content of which is included herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] The invention will now be described in more detail below with reference to preferred and exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a rearing facility according to the invention arranged in a poultry animal hut. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a surface of the rearing facility of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of the rearing facility of the present invention shown in FIGS. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing details of the rearing facility of the present invention shown in FIGS. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing details of the shelf board portion including the fixing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the details of the shelf board portion including the fixing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] 1 is an exemplary diagram of a poultry house 100 for rearing poultry animals. The poultry house 100 comprises a rearing facility 2. The rearing facility 2 is designed for rearing poultry animals and is suitable for working with egg-laying hens as well as for rearing chicks.

[0031] The breeding facility 2 is inclined at an angle α 1 The floor 4 is formed as a mesh floor 4. The floor 4 provides a dwelling surface for the laying hens. In the floor 4, the eggs are laid at an inclination angle α 1 This allows the eggs to roll more reliably in the direction of the egg rolling system 30.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the breeding facility 2 includes a first level E 1 and the second tier E 2 Both tiers E 1 ,E 2 Floor 4 is located on the lower floor E. 2 In the upper part of the cage 4, shelves 8 for rearing the chicks are arranged. The shelves 8 are arranged removably above the floor 4. The shelves 8 are formed as a mesh floor of a shelf. The shelves 8 are arranged essentially horizontally. Therefore, the shelves 8 have a smaller inclination angle than the floor 4.

[0033] The breeding facility 2 has a feeding facility 6. The feeding facility 6 is particularly shown in detail in Fig. 2. The feeding facility 6 has a feeding trough 10. A shelf portion 8 is suspended from or attached to the feeding trough 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the shelf portion 8 is formed in three parts. That is, the shelf portion 8 has a first shelf portion 12, a second shelf portion 14, and a third shelf portion 16.

[0034] The rearing facility 2 further includes an entry tray 18. The entry tray 18 is disposed adjacent to a steep end 20 of the floor 4. A rolling gap 22 is formed between the floor 4 and the entry tray 18. The rolling gap is sized to allow the eggs to roll between the floor 4 and the entry tray 18.

[0035] The feeding container 10 is made height-adjustable so that it is accessible from the floor 4 and from the shelf 8. The feeding container 10 can be adapted depending on the operational stage of the rearing facility 2, i.e. depending in particular on the size of the animals and whether the animals are actually reared on the shelf 8 or on the floor 4.

[0036] The feeding station further comprises a drinking trough which is similarly configured to be height adjustable. The feeding station 2 further comprises at least one perch 34 which is similarly configured to be height adjustable. Referring to Figure 1, the rearing station 2 further comprises a safety gate 32 and an internal gate 40. The living area, in particular the living area for the chicks, is provided on the shelf portion 8 and can be restricted by the gates 32, 40 to reduce the possibility of injury.

[0037] The rearing facility 2 further comprises horizontal partitions 36. The horizontal partitions 36 comprise ventilation openings 38. The ventilation openings 38 arranged adjacent to the shelf portions 8 have a smaller opening diameter d than the ventilation openings 38 not arranged adjacent to the shelf portions 8. The ventilation openings 38 are shown in FIG. 1 only as an example.

[0038] 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the details of the rearing facility 2. As can be seen in the figures, the shelf portion 8 is provided with a hook 44 configured to engage with the feeding container 10. The floor 4 and the shelf portion 8 are further formed as a mesh floor 4, 8. The floor 4 has a mesh width M B The shelf portion 8 has a mesh width M E The width M of the mesh of the shelf board portion 8 E is the width of the floor mesh M B That is, the shelf board portion 8 has a mesh width M smaller than that of the floor 4. E With reference to the shelf portion 8, the shelf portion 8 prevents the chicks from being injured by a mesh that is too wide. During egg-laying, dirt particles are safely discharged downwards due to the large mesh width.

[0039] 3 and 4, the shelf 8 has a horizontal region 46 on which the chicks are accommodated. The horizontal region 46 is essentially horizontal in the installed state. The shelf 8 further has a region 42 which extends essentially vertically in the installed state. The vertically extending region 42 at least partially, in particular completely, closes the rolling gap 22 in order to reduce the possibility of the chicks being injured in the rolling gap 22.

[0040] 5 and 6 show the configuration and hanging of shelf section 8 made up of shelf sections 12-16. Outer shelf sections 12, 16 have a vertical region 42 and a horizontal region 46. Second shelf section 14 has only horizontal region 46. Each shelf section 12, 14, 16 is supported by a hook 44 and hung from feeding container 10.

[0041] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the method of chick rearing and subsequent egg-laying operations will be described below. Based on the configuration shown in Figure 1, the perches 34 and containers 10 are placed in a higher position to be accessible to the day-old chicks when the shelf section 8 is inserted into the rearing facility 2. The gates 32, 40 are closed, so that the chick living area is closed to the E 2 Limited to the surface.

[0042] As the chicks or hens grow, the shelf 8 is removed and the perches 34 and containers 10 are moved to a lower position. The gate 32 remains closed and the gate 40 is opened in turn. At this point, both levels E 1 ,E 2 is now available to the young animals, as is the area to the left of the inner gate 40. Meanwhile, the nest 28 is unavailable.

[0043] After the rearing process is finished, the gates 32 and 40 are now removed for the egg-laying operation, so that the animals can then use all areas of the rearing facility 2, including the nests 28. The configuration of the rearing facility 2 is now similar to the installations for egg-laying operations known from the prior art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 2. Breeding facilities 4 Floor / Mesh Floor 6. Feeding Facilities 8 Living area / Shelf / Mesh floor of shelf 10 Feeding Container 12 First shelf part 14 Second shelf part 16 Third shelf part 18 Inlet Tray 20 Steep end of floor 22 Clearance for rolling 24 Container 28 Nest 30 Egg Rolling System 32 Safety Gate 34 Perch 36 Transverse bulkhead 38 Ventilation openings 40 Inner Gate 42 Vertical area of ​​shelf 44 Hook 46 Horizontal area of ​​shelf 48 Gates 100 poultry house α 1 Tilt angle d Opening diameter E 1 ,E 2 hierarchy H horizontal M E Shelf mesh width M B Floor mesh width

Claims

1. a floor (4) providing a surface for the laying hens to live on, in particular a mesh floor (4); at least one living surface or shelf (8) for rearing chicks, removably arranged above said floor (4), said at least one living surface or shelf (8) being in particular formed as a mesh floor; Equipped with A breeding facility (2) for raising poultry animals.

2. The floor (4) has an inclination angle (α １ ) and The shelf (8) has an inclination angle smaller than the inclination angle of the floor (4) and is arranged in particular horizontally. A breeding facility (2) according to claim 1.

3. A feeding facility (6) having a feeding container (10), The shelf portion (8) is suspended from or attached to the feeding container (10); In particular, the shelf portion (8) is provided with a hook (44) configured to engage with the feeding container (10). A breeding facility (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The floor (4) and the shelf portion (8) are formed as a mesh floor (4, 8), The width of the mesh of the shelf board portion (8) (M Ｅ ) is the width of the mesh of the floor (4) (M Ｂ ) is different. A breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The shelf portion (8) has a mesh width (M Ｅ 5. The breeding facility (2) according to claim 4, further comprising:

6. The breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shelf portion (8) is formed by a plurality of parts, in particular by three parts.

7. an entry tray (18) disposed adjacent the steeply inclined end (20) of said floor (4); a rolling gap (22) is formed between the floor (4) and the entry tray (18) sized to allow eggs to roll between the floor (4) and the entry tray (18); The shelf portion (8) has an area (46) which is essentially horizontal in the installed state and an area (42) which extends essentially vertically in the installed state, said essentially vertically extending region (42) at least partially, in particular completely, closes the rolling gap (22); A breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The feeding facility (6) comprises at least one water container (24) and / or at least one feeding container (10), The water container (24) and / or the food container (10) are height-adjustable so as to be accessible from the floor (4) and the shelf portion (8). A breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. at least one nest (28) and / or egg rolling system (30); At least one safety gate (32, 40); Equipped with the at least one safety gate (32, 40) being removably arranged on the rearing facility (2) and configured to close the nests (28) and / or the egg rolling system (30); A breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a perch (34) configured to be height adjustable.

11. at least one transverse bulkhead (36) having a ventilation opening (38); The ventilation opening (38) arranged adjacent to the shelf portion (8) has an opening diameter (d) smaller than the opening diameter of the ventilation opening (38) not arranged adjacent to the shelf portion (8). A breeding facility (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A poultry house (100) for rearing poultry animals, in particular a laying hen house, comprising a rearing installation (2) according to any one of the claims 1 to 11.

13. Providing a breeding facility (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11; accommodating poultry animals, in particular one-day-old chicks, on said shelf portion (8); Raising said chicks to produce egg-laying hens; After raising the chicks, removing the shelf portion (8); Raising the laying hens on the floor (4) of the rearing facility (2); Including, Methods for raising poultry animals.

14. Use of a rearing installation (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for rearing poultry animals, in particular for rearing laying hens or day-old chicks, in a poultry shed (100), preferably a poultry shed (100) according to claim 12.

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