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Bioland poultry farm · since 1996
Animal husbandry at the Roth poultry farm
The foundation of our work is animal-friendly, transparent poultry husbandry to Bioland standards. Our chickens come predominantly from our own rearing at our farm in Neu-Eichenberg/Neuenrode – complemented by three selected partner farms.
All forms of husbandry consistently follow the Bioland standards and are inspected regularly. This is how we create the basis for high-quality poultry products with traceable origin.
Rearing
From day-old chick to grown bird
Every two weeks we welcome around 1,200 freshly hatched day-old chicks, which we source from the Overmeyer Bioland hatchery near Osnabrück. In their first weeks of life the birds mainly need warmth, calm and a dry, bright barn.
For this phase they have a solid barn building with structured furnishings. Perches, straw bales and raised levels encourage natural behaviour and are actively used by the chicks.
Outdoor range
Green range and structured barns
From the 6th week of life the birds move to barns with a green range – alternating between three fixed barns and two mobile barns. As young grower chickens they curiously make use of the outdoor range. Particularly important here are:
- Wind-sheltered areas
- Dry resting areas
- Bushes and undergrowth as protection from birds of prey
The birds prefer to be outdoors in the morning and evening. In strong sunshine they tend to seek the barn during the day – a natural behaviour that we deliberately respect.
Feeding
Bioland feed from the region
Since March 2012 we have fed exclusively with organic feed components in Bioland quality – including:
- Wheat
- Triticale
- Peas
- Soy cake
- Rapeseed and sunflower cake
- Alfalfa
- Soy oil
Grain from regional cooperation partners
- Schulin Bioland farm in Neuenrode
- Müller – Ölbke Bioland farm in Etzenborn (near Göttingen)
- University of Kassel trial farm in Witzenhausen / Neu-Eichenberg
We freshly mill the grain and mix it with protein components. In addition, we use organic herbs and Kanne Brottrunk (with lactic acid bacteria) to support the birds’ gut flora.
Animal welfare
The right choice of breed
We deliberately choose slower-growing, robust chicken breeds such as Hubbard ISA x57 and Colour Yield. Their genetic growth rate is lower than that of fast-growing hybrids. As a result:
- the skeleton can develop stably
- strain on the legs is avoided
- the birds stay agile and suited to free-range life
The chickens are well-muscled, resilient and ideally suited to organic free-range husbandry.
Certificates (download)
Partner farms
Not everything comes from our own rearing
Turkeys, ducks, geese and soup hens are sourced exclusively from long-standing Bioland partner farms with whom we share a close, trusting cooperation:
CHICKEN
Bioland chicken
- Werragut, Eschwege
- Itter, Gudensberg
- Kastanienhof, Zierenberg
TURKEY
Bioland turkey
- Hafermas, Alheim
DUCKS & GEESE
seasonal
- Dorn / Schmidt GbR, Witzenhausen
- Biolandhof Öx, Berkatal
- Gut Giesenhagen, Großalmerode
SOUP HENS
Bioland
- Knöfel
- Penk
Here too, the same applies without exception: transparency, animal welfare and certified organic quality.
Our guiding principle
Natural life at the centre
Even more important than feed and technology is the animal itself. A natural life in a varied habitat is at the heart of our daily work – for the sake of animal welfare and credible Bioland poultry husbandry.