- English
Project description and challenge
The Knabe family’s chicken fattening barn, which has existed since 1997, was retrofitted with a winter garden and outdoor run. Due to the newly created space and the possibility of outdoor access, the barn now meets Naturland’s criteria for organic management. The insulated warm housing area with forced ventilation and heating as well as the 70-metre-long winter garden provide space for 14,300 animals. The challenge was to create an uncomplicated transition between the winter garden and the outdoor run.
Solution
To enable the animals to switch between the newly built winter garden and the outdoor run, a curtain was installed that opens from the bottom to the top with the help of an electric drive. The upper part of the roll-up ventilation is equipped with a transparent tarpaulin and a back layer net. The upper part serves as weather protection and for regulating the supply air for the cold coulter room. The two units can be controlled independently of each other. The 60 cm high light band between the warm coop area and the winter garden was equipped with another wrap-around ventilation with blackout tarpaulin. If necessary, it can be covered to darken the barn when the animals are delivered. This reduces stress for the animals. When open, the inner barn area continues to be supplied with daylight.
Benefits
In addition to the actual purpose, the flexible transition between the conservatory and the outdoor run, the animals receive natural daylight and outdoor climate stimuli by equipping the conservatory with the curtain. The tarpaulin and the back layer net protect them even in extreme weather situations. The animals are more robust and less sick. The light band also reduces the need for artificial light.
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