Document type: Technical summary produced as part of the Casdar COCORICO project run by ITAVI, published on the website of the Chambre d'Agriculture de Bretagne
Authors: Félicie AULANIER (Chambre d'Agriculture de Bretagne), Gwenn GUILLOU (Chambre d'Agriculture de Bretagne), Laure WARIN (ITAVI)
Preview: In recent years, so-called standard chicken farms have diversified to meet the expectations of the public and new private sector specifications. This summary raises issues that suggest further thinking is required on the introduction of winter gardens, how they can feasibly be installed, and the technical consequences of doing so. Standard broiler rearing has undergone a process of diversifation, with private sector specifications that go beyond the European Directive, covering various criteria such as rearing times, living environment and feed. Some of these call for the use of winter gardens, as recommended by theEFSA to improve animal welfare. Their implementation, however, raises questions concerning their feasibility, management and profitability. Winter gardens form a covered and partially open space adjoining the poultry house that offers an intermediate climate between outdoor conditions and those inside the poultry house. Accessible during the day as a minimum, it provides additional space for the animals while keeping them safe from health risks and predation. The recommended minimum size for these gardens is 20% of the building's floor area. The adaptation of existing buildings to include winter gardens involves particular constraints, for example, those imposed by land availability, regulations and the characteristics of the existing building. Technical constraints may also arise: building height, structural weakness, the presence of asbestos, and ventilation challenges (how to maintain air circulation). In Switzerland, where standards are more stringent than in France, most chicken farms have winter gardens. They occupy at least 20% of the indoor area and access to them depends on temperatures and the age of the animals. Swiss farmers report frequent use of the gardens in summer, and difficulties in managing ventilation when they open the hatches, which has to be dealt with by a combination of fine-tuning and learning certain tricks. Although winter gardens offer advantages for animal welfare, their implementation on standard French broiler farms poses significant economic and technical challenges. The initial investment is substantial, with additional costs in maintenance, energy and labour hours. Further thought needs to be given to the product's market positioning and cost.
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