Farmers are sounding the alarm: Hobby chicken farmers are endangering professional poultry farms
Created: 2022-12-20 05:05
By: Tobias Gehre
The area under the canopy is a kind of joker for farmer Florian Naßl.
If a stall becomes compulsory, the animals can also stay there - and thus have more space than just in the stall.
© Gehre
Cackling in more and more gardens.
Chickens as pets are more popular than ever.
But the increasing number of egg suppliers also has a downside.
Fürstenfeldbruck - It increases the risk of an outbreak of avian influenza.
This can have serious consequences for professional poultry farmers.
It's kind of an early warning.
At the end of November, the district office ordered protective measures for poultry farmers to be tightened.
Markets, exhibitions and shows are prohibited.
In addition, employees must wear protective clothing.
Vehicles and equipment must be disinfected.
And the farmers should prepare for a new stall obligation for their animals.
Reason for the excitement: Since the end of October, avian influenza has broken out in four places in Bavaria.
All four cases concerned so-called hobby holdings.
(
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular
FFB newsletter.)
A problem for farmers
This becomes a problem for farmers who earn their living from poultry.
One of them is Florian Naßl from the Holzhausen district of Allingen.
Around 3,000 ISA Brown chickens go about their daily work on around three hectares of open space behind his farm.
At the beginning of 2023, another 3000 animals are to be added.
The 31-year-old is afraid of having to lock his animals in the barn.
“The chickens are used to living outside.
If they have to stay in the barn all the time, that's a lot of stress for the animals - and for the farmer."
A look at the numbers shows how much the potential risk of an outbreak of avian influenza has increased.
Since 2020, the number of poultry farms in the district with up to 100 animals - including hobby keepers - has increased by 140.
The veterinary office in the district office will inform you of this on request.
The authorities know this because every poultry farmer has to report their animals - even if there are only two chickens cackling through the garden.
Hobby chickens mostly outdoors
The fact that private hens are particularly at risk is also due to the fact that they are usually kept outdoors.
If, for example, a wild bird infected with avian influenza relieves itself over the enclosure, the disease is quickly introduced.
In order to prevent this, there is a stable requirement.
However, a major outbreak of avian influenza can have even more drastic consequences for professional keepers.
Then measures such as husbandry, trade and transport restrictions are possible.
"These measures can affect the existence of larger companies located within the zones," said the district office
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My space
Please no exotics!
However, Florian Naßl is not mad at the private chicken farmers.
After all, that's how he and his wife Marina started.
The farmer can understand that the animals are winning the hearts of more and more people.
"I like her character," says Nassl.
However, the farmer has one request: He appeals to chicken lovers and those who want to become one not to buy exotic chickens.
"There is a great danger that something will be brought in." Naßl advises regional or local procurement of the feathered egg suppliers - just like his perfectly normal brown chickens.
You can find more current news from the district of Fürstenfeldbruck at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.