Management Guide

For laying hens in deep litter,

perchery and free-range systems
© by the publishers, 2005 Cuxhaven
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
the prior permission of the Copyright owner.
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Deep litter system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Perchery system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Free range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Requirements for pullets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Housing of pullets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Management during the early days . . . . . . . . . . 7
Litter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
House climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 – 9
Equipment needed/minimum technical
requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Feeding of laying hens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Onset of production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 – 13
Phase feeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Condition of the plumage and feed intake . . . . 15
Feeding – when and how? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Flock checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Nest boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Floor eggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Lighting programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 – 20
Bird health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 – 22
Parasites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 – 23
Rodents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Abnormal behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Outdoor areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Cleaning and disinfection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 – 27
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
List of authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

1
Preface
The keeping of laying hens in deep litter, perchery
and free-range systems requires considerably more
expertise than the conventional battery cage
system.

Eggs produced in this way are high quality food-

stuffs which justify a higher price.

Any farmer who decides to adopt alternative

production systems should first acquire a basic
knowledge of layer management in alternative
systems. This guide is intended to provide the
necessary information.
Readers wishing to explore this subject in greater
depth will find more advanced material in various
sources, including publications by the German
KTBL and the management programmes of
breeding and multiplier companies for laying hens.

Before planning and building new facilities or

converting existing buildings into deep litter or
perchery housing, it is essential to obtain expert
advice.

The authors

October 2004

3
Deep litter system
■ Designs vary considerably and can be adapted
to the layout of an existing building;
■ Classic form: 80 – 90 cm dropping pit covered
with wooden, wire mesh or plastic slats on which
feeders, drinkers and nests are mounted = 2/3
floor space and littered scratching area = 1/3
floor space;
■ If the hens have unlimited access to a covered
outdoor enclosure the entire barn can be
covered with slats;
■ Stocking density: 9 hens per m2 of usable floor
space;
■ Raised perches and rails encourage good
dispersal of the hens across the building and
provide resting areas.

Perchery system
■ Percheries are systems where the birds can move
around on several levels.
■ The levels are covered with wooden, wire mesh
or plastic slats, and manure belt Ventilation can
be installed if desired. As a rule, feeders and
drinkers are positioned on the lower levels.
■ The upper levels are mostly used as resting
areas for the hens.
■ Depending on the type of perchery, the nest
boxes are located either within the system or
outside the perchery.
■ Stocking density: up to 18 hens per m2 of
ground floor space;
■ Controlled lighting and variable feeding times
should encourage the hens to move around the
different levels.

4
Free range
■ Deep litter or perchery system where birds have
additionally access to free range.
■ Wintergarden as crossing area which can be
cleaned after each flock.
■ Stocking density 4 m2 per bird in range area

Requirements for pullets

■ Pullets should have their beaks carefully
trimmed. The keeper should therefore liaise
with pullet suppliers in good time. The pullets’
bodyweight should preferably be above the
breeder’s standard – allow for fasting losses
during transport! Pullets intended for alternative
management systems should be raised in the
same system, i.e. perchery hens should be raised
in percheries.
■ The greater the design similarities between the
grower and the production facility the easier it
will be for the pullets to get used to their new
surroundings.
■ Even pullets kept in deep litter systems should
be given opportunities for learning how to fly –
perches should be used
before 6 weeks
of age
(the feed
chain should
preferably be
raised).

5
Housing of pullets
■ Pullets should be moved to the production facility
at about 18 weeks of age.
■ On arrival, hens should be dispersed evenly
across the building (within the system) and
placed close to feeders and drinkers.
■ Water and feed must be available imme-
diately. To make drinking easier the water
pressure of nipple drinkers can be increased.
■ Make sure that the temperature in the
building is comfortable!
■ The light should be left on after arrival of the
birds to that they can find their way around –
in extreme cases for up to 24 hours (while
observing the day-night rhythm!). However, if the
birds are extremely fatigued on arrival it may be
advisable to turn the light off for a brief period
of rest.
■ Do not disturb the birds during the first 24 hours
in their new quarters – checks should only be
conducted in emergencies.
■ Attendants should behave calmly – always
wear the same clothing. Nervous attendants
unsettle the new pullets.

6
Management during the early days
■ In the first few days following the move to
the laying house the birds‘ feed intake should
be stimulated. Ways of achieving this include
moistening the feed, running the feed lines
more frequently, using skim milk powder or a
whey-fat concentrate and vitamin supplements.
■ It is essential that pullets do not lose
weight after housing. They should gain
weight, or at least maintain their bodyweight.
■ If the housing system allows it and stocking
densities are not exceeded as a result, the hens
should be confined to the area above the
manure pit or the perchery until about 75 %
laying performance has been reached.
■ Partial closure of the scratching area (leaving
a minimal portion accessible to the hens) and
manual assistance for birds that cannot find
their way back into the system have also proved
useful.
■ Light sources should be installed in such a way
that the entire house and the entrance to the
nests are well lit and should be programmed so
that at the end of the light day
only the area above the
manure pit or the perchery
are lit.

7
Litter
■ The type and quality of the litter are important
for the hens and the house climate. Various
materials may be used:
■ Sand or gravel up to 8 mm particle size

■ Wood shavings

■ Wheat, dinkel, rye straw

■ Bark mulch

■ Coarse wood chips

■ Sand and gravel should be put down dry, wood

shavings must be dust-free and straw must be of
clean and fungus-free quality.
■ 1 to 2 cm litter depth is sufficient.
■ Litter should be put down after placement of the
hens and should preferably be spread around
by the birds themselves. If temperatures are low
this can prevent the formation of condensation
between floor and litter.
■ Changing soiled litter in heavily used areas of
the barn is often unavoidable.
■ A well designed outdoor enclosure is good for
litter quality. Exit/entry pop-holes should be
staggered.

House climate
■ House temperatures of 18 °C are ideal for
laying hens in alternative production
systems.
■ A relative humidity of between 50 and 75% is
tolerated by hens.
■ Lower temperatures during the winter months
pose no problem for hens. But high tempera-
tures above 30 °C are less well tolerated.
■ Hens that are expected to use a covered outdoor
enclosure or range area must be acclimatised to
the colder winter temperatures.
■ The quality of the plumage should be taken into
account when setting house temperatures in
alternative production systems.

8
■ Climate and house temperature are heavily
dependent on hen activity, stocking density and
pop-holes.
■ Draughts are bad for hens.
■ If there are problems with
ventilation, experts should
be consulted.
■ Draughty sections of the
building are avoided by the
hens. They tend to congrega-
te in warm, stuffy parts
of the building.
Mortalities due to
crushing and the incidence of floor eggs are
increased by poor ventilation.
■ Ventilation should ensure that in summer warm
air is rapidly extracted from the area occupied
by the hens and that in winter the building does
not get too cold.
■ High concentrations of noxious gases should be
avoided.
■ Ammonia has an adverse effect on the
hens’ well-being and health.
■ In buildings operating ventilation with air at
negative pressure, a well constructed outdoor
enclosure and the use of exit boxes or
antidraught devices (strip curtains) in front of
the pop-holes prevent the ventilation system
from breaking down.
■ The following minimum requirements for house
air should be observed:

O2 Not less than 20%

CO2 Below 0.3%
CO Below 40 ppm
NH3 Below 20 ppm
H2 S Below 5 ppm

9
Equipment needed / minimum techni-
cal requirements

Darkness Min. 8 hours or natural dark

phase

Feeding Trough space 10 cm / bird;

place circular feeder 4 cm / bird

Drinkers Circular drinking trough

1 cm / bird; 10 birds / nipple

Distances Max. 8 metres to feeder/drinker

Nest boxes 5 hens / individual nest;

in communal nests 120 hens / m2

Proportion At least 33 % of floor area

of litter

Droppings 80 – 90 cm deep to hold

pit droppings from one batch if there
is no manure scraper / 7° gradient
to nest

Perches 15 cm / hen; distance between

perches 30 cm

Exit Minimum dimensions:

pop-holes 45 cm high / 500 hens per metre

10
Feeding of laying hens
■ Because of increased movement and activity by
hens in alternative systems, their maintenance
requirement is 10 % higher than that of caged
hens (15% in the case of free-range hens).
■ Based on an average feed consumption of 110 g
/ hen and day, the extra feed allowance for
floor-reared hens is + 6.6 g feed / hen per day
and for free-range +10 g feed / hen per day
(11.4 ME MJ/kg) .
■ The prerequisites for a good and adequate
nutrient intake by the hens are a sufficiently high
dietary energy content and sufficient feed
consumption.
■ The economic scope for manipulating nutrient
density is limited. A sufficiently high feed intake
per bird per day is therefore the key to ensuring
that hens perform to their genetic potential.
■ The feed intake capacity of laying hens is
determined by:
■ Bodyweight

■ Laying performance

■ Ambient temperature

■ Condition of plumage

■ Energy content of the ration

■ Consistency of the feed

■ Genetic potential

■ Health status

■ Development of stomach / intestines

11
Onset of production
■ Prior to 18 weeks of age pullets are not yet fully
grown and should therefore not be fed a layer
ration. This prevents premature onset of egg
laying. At that age the hens in the laying house
should therefore receive a pre-lay ration. This
should be fed for a period of about two weeks.
■ When a flock has reached about 5 % production
the ration is switched to a high quality complete
layer starter. The time for feeding the pre-lay
ration and the optimum changeover date should
be agreed with the pullet producer.
■ Just before and at the start of laying activity a
reduction in feed intake is often observed, in
some cases to well below 100 g / bird per day.
This is too low and efforts should be made to
raise the feed intake to 115 g / bird per day as
quickly as possible. This can be achieved by:

■ Ensuring that the feed has a sufficiently

homogeneous consistency until it is consumed
■ Feeding several times a day (6 – 8 feedings)
■ Running feed lines several times a day for
short periods
■ Running feed lines empty at regular intervals
(ideally every day, but at least once a week)
■ Moistening the feed with water or other
suitable liquids
■ Feeding whey or a whey-fat concentrate
■ Illuminating the feeding stations

■ An adequate nutrient intake during this time

should be ensured by providing a ration with a
high nutrient density (11.6 – 11.8 ME MJ/kg)
and correspondingly higher amino acid
concentrations. Nutrient deficiency of hens
at the start of laying activity leads to
irreversible losses in egg production.

12
■ Premature use of a layer ration (calcium > 3 %)
is undesirable; a pre-lay ration is recommended.
This should be agreed with the pullet supplier.
■ At the beginning of the production period laying
hens should rapidly achieve an adequate feed
intake. Undersupply of nutrients at the onset of
lay places a strain on the hens‘ metabolism and
can lead to fatty liver syndrome.
■ The actual daily feed intake per bird per day can
vary considerably in practice.
■ Normal laying performance in alternative
systems requires both a high dietary nutrient
density and an even feed intake.
■ The objective is a daily feed intake of at
least 115 – 125 g per hen (depending on
breed and management system).

13
Phase feeding
■ The basis of any feeding programme should be
the hens‘ nutrient requirement. This changes
constantly as the hens get older. To cater for
changing dietary needs, at least three different
ration types should be provided:
■ A layer starter (phase 1) with a high nutrient
density for a good start to production
■ A phase-2 ration for good laying persistence
with reduced levels of protein, amino acids
and linoleic acid and adequate levels of
calcium and phosphorus
■ A phase-3 ration formulated for optimum shell
quality and egg weights

Example of a commercial phase-feeding

programme:

Nutrient Phase
1 2 3
19-35** 36-50 ** 51**- End
ME 11.6 11.4 11.4
MJ/kg
Crude protein % 18.0 17.0 16.5
Methionine % 0.40 0.38 0.35
Lysine % 0.90 0.80 0.75
Calcium % 3.70 3.70 4.00
Phosphorus %* 0.55 0.50 0.45
Sodium % 0.15 0.15 0.15
Linoleic acid % 2.00 1.75 1.40

* if phytase is used ** age in weeks

■ The most efficient way of providing hens with an

adequate feed and nutrient supply is to set up
one feed silo for each age group. In larger
operations it is advisable to supply each unit
from two silos. This makes regular cleaning of
the silos easier and enables a rapid change in
diet if necessary.

14
Condition of the plumage
and feed intake
Intact plumage throughout the laying period
complies with animal welfare regulations and is
essential for animal health. The feathers protect
hens against loss of body heat and prevent
increased feed consumption.

Impact of plumage on daily energy requirement for

maintenance:

Plumage
% 100 90 80 70 60 50
Additional
maintenance 0 7.2 14.4 21.6 28.8 36
requirement kcal
Additional
feed requirement 0 2.6 5.2 7.8 10.4 13
g/day*

Ration with 2770 kcal, or 11.6 ME MJ/kg

15
Feeding – when and how?
■ During the first three hours of the light period
feed lines for young flocks should be run hourly.
For the remainder of the light day feeding at
three-hourly intervals is recommended.
■ Hens should eat sufficient food before the end of
the day so that they have adequate nutrients for
egg formation during the nocturnal rest period.
■ If extra calcium is to be provided via the feed
lines the last feeding of the day is the best time
to do this.

Water
■ Water should be of potable quality.
Well water should be analysed regularly.
■ Keepers of laying hens should always ask them-
selves: Would I drink this water myself?
■ Feed and water intake are closely correlated.
The normal ratio is twice as much water as feed
(2:1).
■ If temperatures are high or hens are sick they
drink more.
■ Hens that are unable to drink enough
water do not eat.
■ Regular inspections of the drinking system are
strongly recommended.
■ A water meter is a worthwhile
investment.
■ Drinking facilities
should be regularly
cleaned, paying
special attention to
supply tanks.

16
Flock checks
■ Immediately after the start of the light period in
the morning a thorough tour of inspection
should be made to check that the following are
in good working order:
■ Drinkers

■ Feeders

■ Lights

■ Nest boxes

■ The house climate should be checked and the

condition of the flock and the hens’ behaviour
assessed.
■ At the start of lay multiple inspections are
recommended to collect any floor eggs.

Nest boxes
■ Nest boxes should be easily accessible to the
hens, preferably by positioning them in a central
location in the shed.
■ The entrance to the nest should be well lit, while
the interior of the nest area should be kept dark.
■ Do not allow pullets access to the nest until
shortly before laying activity starts (about 10 days
before). This increases the attractiveness of the
nest.
■ During the laying period the nest should be
opened 2 – 3 hours before the start of the light
period and closed 2 – 3 hours before the end of
the light period.
■ Avoid soiling of nests and broodiness by closing
the nests overnight!
■ Barring night-time access prevents hens from
spending the night in the nest, which also makes
it less attractive to mites.
■ Tilting floors are effective in expelling hens from
the nest and also help keep the floor of the nest
clean.

17
Floor eggs
The incidence of floor eggs can be reduced by
considering the following in the design of the
building and the management of young flocks:
■ All parts of the building should be well lit –

dark corners and heavily littered scratching

areas enourage hens to lay floor eggs.
■ Draughty nests bother hens during egg laying.

■ The entrance to the nest must be clearly visible

to the hens.
■ Additional lighting of the interior of the nest can

increase nest acceptance at the start of lay.

■ The litter depth should not exceed 2 cm at the

beginning of the laying period - light-coloured

litter is preferable to dark.
■ Feeders and drinkers should not be more than

2 – 3 metres away from the nest area.

■ Drinkers in the vicinity of the nest entice the birds

into this area.

■ Perforated floors that slant towards the nest at

an angle of about 7° motivate the hens to lay

eggs in the nest.
■ If there are level walking surfaces in front of the

nests, barriers should be installed every two

meters to stop hens from parading along the
nests and blocking access to them.
■ Pullets should be moved to the production facility

at about 18 weeks of age.

■ Next boxes should be opened 10 to 14 days

before the start of lay.

■ Do not disturb the hens during the main laying

time and avoid feeding at this time if possible.

■ No flock inspections during the main laying time!

■ Floor eggs should be collected promptly, if

necessary several times a day.

■ If floor eggs occur, increase the daylength by

turning the light on earlier in the morning.

■ Electric fencing and draughts keep hens out of

problem areas.

18
Lighting
■ The best light source for laying hens is a high
frequency lamp emitting light within the natural
spectrum (frequency range over 2000 Hz).
■ Fluorescent tubes or energy-saving lamps
(50 – 100 Hz) have what is referred to as a
„disco effect“ on laying hens. This type of
lighting induces stress, feather picking and
cannibalism (which does not occur with
incandescent lamps).
■ Lights should have dimmers.

Lighting programmes
■ Do not shorten the daylength during the
laying period!
■ Coordinate programmes for the growing
and production phase. Laying hen keepers
and pullet producers should liaise on this
(daylength and light „on/off“ times).
■ If the laying house has windows there are
several options:
■ either keep the windows blacked-out

completely until the maximum daylength is

reached (according to the programme)
■ or coordinate the times for opening or cove-

ring the windows with the lighting programme.

■ In central Europe the natural daylength
increases to about 17 hours by the end of
July and then shortens to about 8 hours
by the end of December.
■ If the hens have access to covered outdoor
enclosures / range areas or if windows and
ventilation shafts cannot be light-proofed to keep
out natural daylight, this should be taken into
account.
■ When moving hens to „open“ laying houses it is
essential to prevent excessive photostimulation

19
 and hence stress through an abrupt lengthening
of the day (in spring and summer). Illumination
should be increased by not more than 2 – 3
hours.
■ Daylength should be increased (according to the
programme) by 30 or 60 minutes weekly to 14
hours. Adjustments should always be made in
the morning.
■ In open housing the lighting programme during
the spring and summer months is determined by
the lengthening of the natural day, which peaks
at about 17 hours of daylight.
■ When the natural day shortens from July
onwards, the 17-hour daylength should
be kept constant until the end of the
laying period by using a time clock.

20
Bird health
■ Growing pullets are vaccinated against several
viral diseases (Marek’s disease, IB, ND,
Gumboro, ILT), one bacterial (Salmonella) and
one parasitic infection (coccidiosis).
■ In alternative systems the infection pressure
from fowlpox and EDS is usually higher and,
depending on the region, pullets should also be
vaccinated against these diseases.
■ Combined vaccinations against IB, ND, EDS, in
some cases also ART, are popular.
■ Booster vaccinations against ND are required by
law and vaccinations against IB are advisable at
5-10-week intervals.
■ If the Salmonella pressure is high an additional
vaccination on top of those usually given during
the rearing period, is required. This should be
done with Salmovac, an adsorbed vaccine.
■ Bacterial infections due to E. coli, erysipelas and
Pasteurella multocida are common in alternative
management systems. An infectious outbreak
depends on the type of causal agent, the
infection pressure and the condition of the flock.
Here too, immunity can be conferred by
combined vaccinations.
■ Effective treatment of bacterial infections is
almost impossible in laying hens. This is why a
prophylactic vaccination with flock-specific vacci-
nes is advisable. This outlay can help prevent
high losses and emergency slaughter of flocks.
■ Causal agents of erysipelas and Pasteurella
infections are usually found in rodents living
near infected birds. Effective control of mice
and rats is an important preventative
measure.
■ E. coli infections are promoted by regional MG
(Mycoplasma gallisepticum) infections and should
be minimised by vaccinating hens against MG.

21
■ Clostridia can be kept at bay by proper sanitation
in the scratching area, outdoor enclosure and
range.
■ Only two drugs are still approved in
Germany for the treatment of bacterial
infections (E. coli) in laying hens.
■ There are no drugs on the market against
coccidia, Pasteurella, erysipelas etc.
■ If mortalities are high or if there are
other signs of sickness in the flock,
a veterinarian should be consulted
immediately.

Parasites
■ Roundworms and threadworms occur in chickens
(transmission with the droppings).
■ If an infection is suspected the hens in the flock
should be examined. Worm eggs are visible in
the droppings. If helminth infection is diagnosed
the flock should be wormed.
■ Red mite is a major problem in alternative
production systems.
■ Mites damage health and reduce productivity
and in heavy infestations they can be responsible
for high mortality rates (by transmitting
diseases).
■ Infestation causes stress in the flock (feather
pecking, cannibalism, reduced egg production).
■ It is advisable to check flocks regularly for
mites.
■ Common hiding places of mites are:
■ corners of nest boxes

■ under the top covering of the nest roof

■ feeder legs, trough connectors

■ crossbars of perches

■ dropping boards

■ corners of walls

■ vertical tubes of perches

22
■ Mites should be controlled with suitable insectici-
des or other suitable products. These should be
applied in the evening as mites feed at night.
■ When applying insecticides take care to reach all
places where mites hide. The quantity of product
applied is not what matters but its thorough
and even distribution is
extremely important.
■ Treatments for mites and
beetles should be done as
soon as the laying house
has been evacuated
– while the barn is
still warm – other-
wise the insects crawl
away into inaccessible
places.

Rodents
■ Housing for laying hens should be free of rats
and mice. Rodents carry disease and are often
the cause of bacterial infections in the flock.
■ If there is heavy rodent infestation the pests
should be exterminated quickly and efficiently by
a trained specialist.
■ The use of suitable building materials, regular
maintenance of the fabric of the building and
sealing of openings in the exterior wall (wire
grills in front of ventilation shafts) reduce rodent
numbers.
■ Broken stones and shingle (laid in a 1 – 2 m
wide strip along exterior walls) are avoided by
rats and can deter them from coming near the
laying house.

23
Abnormal behaviour
Watch out for and monitor abnormal behaviours
(feather pecking / cannibalism). A sudden onset of
abnormal behaviour can have a variety of reasons.
Consider the following:
■ Nutrition and health – bodyweight, uniformity,
signs of infections;
■ Stocking density – overcrowding and insufficient
feeding and drinking stations cause stress;
■ House climate – temperature, humidity, air
velocity, pollution by dust and/or noxious gases;
■ Light intensity / light source – excessively bright
light or flickering light (fluorescent tubes or
energy-saving lamps, < 2000 Hz );
■ Ecto- and endoparasites – infested birds are
stressed and have diarrhoea;
■ Feed consistency – very finely ground meal-type
rations or pelleted feed encourage abnormal
behaviour;
■ Dietary protein /amino acid content – deficiencies
cause problems;
■ Supply of calcium and sodium – deficiencies
cause stress.

24
Outdoor areas
■ A combination of covered outdoor enclosure
and range is recommended;
■ Rotational grazing and growing of grass or
cereal have proved beneficial;
■ Put down coarse gravel, shingle, wood chips or
other stabilising materials in the area close to
the barn (tar products are unsuitable).;
■ If the outdoor area is heavily used, carry out
regular ground maintenance and disinfection;
■ After rain do not allow puddles to form in the
range area;
■ Drinkers in the pasture area, outdoor enclosure
and barn should be of the same type;
■ Make use of trees, shrubs, mobile roofs, disused
trailers etc. as protection against vermin and to
give shade;
■ Access to outdoor areas should be managed
according to the weather conditions;
■ Do not allow hens outside until 6 hours after the
start of the light period (lighting programme)
and make sure they eat plenty of food before
going outside;
■ Pullets going outside for the first time need to be
trained in the use of the outdoor area. Pullets
visiting a pasture with good vegetation tend to
eat many plants, stones, etc., which can greatly
reduce their feed intake.
■ Failure to consume sufficient food during
this phase of peak egg production
severely jeopardises the hens‘ nutrient
supply. This leads to weight loss, reduced
production and increased susceptibility to
disease in the flock.
■ It is advisable to cut the pasture before it is
used for the first time. Young flocks should be
introduced gradually to using the outdoor area.
■ Free-range systems should be protected from
vermin and predators.

25
Cleaning and disinfection
■ As soon as the hens have been moved out
it is advisable to treat walls and ceilings with
insecticides while the barn is still warm.
■ All movable equipment (drinkers, feeders) should
be taken outside.
■ Litter and manure should be removed from the
building;
■ Litter must be removed completely and disposed
of as far away as possible (> 1 km);
■ 24 h before the washing operation the interior
of the building (walls, ceilings, remaining
furniture) should be soaked (using fat- and
protein-dissolving products);
■ Clean the barn with pressure washers, starting
with the ceiling and working down to the floor
(paying particular attention to ventilation
elements, pipelines, edges and top surfaces of
beams);
■ Make sure the barn is well lit during the cleaning
operation so that dirt is clearly visible;
■ After cleaning, rinse surfaces and furniture with
fresh water;
■ Stabilising materials from the section of range
just outside the building should be removed and
replaced at the same time as the litter;
■ Any furniture taken outside and the exterior of
the building, including outdoor concreted areas,
should also be washed down;
■ Dirty drinkers are potential hazards and should
therefore be cleaned and disinfected;
■ Drinker lines should be thoroughly flushed out
after disinfection. Disinfectant residues in
drinkers must be avoided.
■ Remove all left-over feed from the farm – clean,
wash and disinfect all parts of the feeding
system and feed silos;
■ Carry out any necessary repair work after the
cleaning operation has been completed;

26
■ When the facility has been completely
assembled, the building should be disinfected.
■ Appropriate steps should be taken to
check the efficacy of the disinfection.

27
Notes

28
Notes

29
Notes

30
Notes

31
This Management Guide was created with help
from the companies and individuals listed
below:

■ Big Dutchman International GmbH, Vechta

■ deuka Deutsche Tiernahrung

GmbH & Co. KG, Düsseldorf

■ Fachtierarztpraxis Dr. Manfred Pöppel,

Delbrück

■ Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH, Cuxhaven

■ LSL Rhein-Main, Dieburg

■ Reinhold Willenborg, Langförden

■ Rihs Agro AG, CH-Seon

■ Salmet International GmbH, Dietzenbach

■ Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für

Legehennen GmbH, Bestensee

■ Volito GmbH, Sundern-Hövel

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L 04/10-E