Chickens are all the rage.
More and more people keep hens in private gardens.
The Rutz family from Naring explains why the poultry are so great.
And an expert gives tips.
Naring
- During the European Football Championship, everyday life in the chicken coop was turned upside down. When the Rutz family was watching a game in the living room, one of the brown Vorwerk chickens would sit outside on the window sill, stretching its black head towards the television. Stared spellbound at the goalscorer. "Most of the time it sank into a slumber position at some point," says Anian Rutz. “We then had to carry it into the barn.” The chicken regularly missed the closing time. The flap for the chicken house opens and closes via a light sensor.
The Rutz family from Naring bought chickens for their garden.
Private chicken keeping away from farms is all the rage.
According to the district office, there are 546 poultry farmers in the district.
26 of them have more than 50 animals, 339 fewer than ten.
There is an "upward trend to be recognized", explains spokeswoman Sophie Stadler.
The children learn where food comes from
This spring Rutz and his wife Lucia bought eight chickens. Four different races with a calm mind. “Chickens are great,” says the 37-year-old. “Because they are farm animals.” His two daughters, three-year-old Felicitas and ten-month-old Florina, learn where food comes from. At the same time, the animals are trusting. Children can cuddle with them. “Our older one is particularly important with the chickens.” She helps with mucking out and collects the eggs from the nests. Four to seven pieces a day. “Bought eggs never taste that good.” But: “We haven't had the courage to go to the rooster,” says Rutz. After the nights with two children were rather restless, the couple did not want to be woken up by the Kikeriki. If the family drives away, a machine provides feed and fresh water.During longer vacations it is not difficult to “find support staff”.
Anschi Hacklinger from Weyarn also got hooked.
Just in time for the first lockdown in March 2020, she bought Fin und Pfefferl from a poultry farmer.
"Two normal, brown domestic chickens." A neighbor taught her the basics of poultry.
“A chicken perch is important,” says Hacklinger.
“The animals like to sleep upstairs.” That's why they moved to the first floor of the barn.
The ducks Helge and Berta reside on the ground floor.
“Like in a shared apartment.” They are given GM-free grain feed and leftover food to eat.
"It's a cycle on a small scale."
Poultry breeding association feels the trend enormously
The poultry breeding association Miesbach feels the chicken trend enormously. "Our membership has increased brutally in the last few years," reports Vice Chairman Franz Heiss. “That's a real hype.” While the number of members shrank to 85 in the 90s, the number is now almost 200. The catchment area is large, reaching as far as Munich and Ingolstadt. Mostly young women came along to keep chickens in the garden. “The chicken is very important.” To the chagrin of the association, only a few are interested in breeding. But one is still happy about the lively demand.
Large and calm breeds are particularly in demand.
For example Sulmtaler or Sundheimer chickens, Wyandotten, Appenzell pointed hoods and silk chickens.
“They look like a cotton ball,” says Heiß.
Roosters are less popular.
“Because that often leads to problems in residential areas.” According to chairman Helmut Benda, who breeds American Leghorn himself, the new members use the club's service.
For example the vaccination campaigns.
Registration and vaccination are mandatory for chickens
According to Stadler, chickens are required to be vaccinated against Newcastle disease. Every keeper has to register his chickens with the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forests (AELF). "There you get an agricultural company number." Then you report to the veterinary office. "The background is the bird flu, so the office must have an overview of the stocks." Every registered owner is informed about protective measures in an emergency, adds Josef Fuchs from the AELF. Registration is also useful for controls on husbandry conditions.
Rutz and Hacklinger have also reported their chickens.
Hacklinger doesn't want to miss Fin and Pfefferl anymore.
“I get two eggs every day.” One of her hens suddenly started hatching one day.
“That was bitter.” Because nothing hatched.
One tap is missing.
And their hens have enough to do with runner-macho Helge.
If his Berta bucks, he pinches Pfefferl and Fin. There's always something going on in the chicken coop.
Tips from the experts
The Miesbach poultry breeding association is happy to advise the many new members, explain to them what to look out for and give tips. "Parasites are a big topic," says first chairman Helmut Benda. For example the red poultry mite, which in the worst case leads to the death of the chickens. Chemical agents and smooth surfaces in the barn are the best help here. “So that the mites cannot hide.” In order to avoid diseases, fresh water is important, advises the 65-year-old.
The barn should be in the shade and be spacious "so that the barn pressure is not too great".
There should be rounded perches there.
And a manure board.
"So that you can keep the area nice and clean." Because: "The cleaner the barn, the better the health of the animals," explains Benda.
An electric sheep fence helps against foxes, and nets are useful against birds of prey.
However, bushes were better suited here.
“This way the chickens can take cover.” Therefore, a stable on stilts is ideal, where they can also seek protection from the weather and enemies.
Bread shouldn't be fed too much.
“The laying performance drops,” warns Benda.
Even cardiac death could occur.
Shell limestone should be in the grain feed.
“That is good for the digestion.” Important: Never overfeed the animals.
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