Adapting laying hens to a mobile henhouse – what needs to be considered?

When managing a mobile poultry house, several key elements must be taken into account to ensure both the welfare of the hens and optimal production. One of the most important aspects is the appropriate adaptation of the hens to the new conditions. New hens should have the opportunity to acclimatise to the new environment in a calm atmosphere. Regular observation of their behaviour, health and egg production will allow you to react quickly if problems arise.

To properly introduce hens to a mobile hen house, it is worth following a few specific steps:

1. Preparation of the living space

Before you put the chickens in the coop, you should make sure that the coop is fully prepared. Check that perches, nests, drinkers and feeders are clean and easily accessible. The mobile hen house should have adequate ventilation as well as fresh and dry litter so that the animals can move around freely.

It is also a good idea to secure the area around the poultry house, especially if it is in an open area where predators may be present. Fences or other security measures can protect the chickens from danger. This is why we always emphasise that the net over the run and the electric fence we offer are an absolute must for mobile chicken coops.

2. Familiarisation with the hen house

Hens, especially young ones, can initially be stressed by their new environment. To help them settle in, you should introduce them to the hen house in a calm atmosphere. It is important to give them a few days to familiarise themselves with their surroundings before they are allowed outside. The first few days can be crucial in building up a sense of security in the new place, which will help them to adapt more quickly.

It is therefore advisable not to let the hens outside at first, but to leave them in the coop so that they feel confident that this is their new, safe place – their HOME. This will help them to get used to returning to the coop after a day on the pasture. The hens need to learn that this is their main retreat, which is especially important with mobile hen houses that change location.

3. Gradual release outdoors

After the first few days, when the hens have become accustomed to the coop, they can gradually be released outside to explore their new environment. It is important to control this process at the beginning and observe how they react to the open space and whether they return to the coop at night without any problems. It is important that no predator can get to the chickens that are resting at night. This can be supported by an automatic system for opening and closing the exit flaps at times pre-programmed by the farmer, which is built into KROPPER’s mobile poultry houses, among others.

4. Observing the behaviour

After placing the chickens in the mobile chicken coop, regularly observe their behaviour. Check that all animals are eating, drinking and behaving naturally. Look out for symptoms of stress such as reduced feed intake, apathy, restlessness, pecking at each other’s feathers or climbing and stacking on top of each other. By observing the chickens’ health and behaviour in the first few days, you can identify problems such as illness or unmet needs and quickly eliminate them.

Remember that stress in chickens can lead to a drop in egg production or delay the start of laying altogether, so it is important to provide them with as calm and comfortable an environment as possible.

5. Facilitating access to feed and water

During acclimatisation, it is extremely important that the chickens have constant access to food and water. The feed should be placed in an easily accessible place and the water should always be clean and fresh. Adequate nutrition in the initial phase of the hens’ stay in the new environment reduces their stress and promotes the adaptation process. Poultry houses with automatic feeding systems and those equipped with a mobile app that allows constant monitoring of water and feed levels, such as the Auto-Feeder 225 model we offer, can be of great help in this regard.

6. Light to support adaptation

Adequate lighting in the henhouse is very important, especially in winter when the days are short. With sufficient lighting, the hens can maintain a regular daily rhythm, which has an impact on their health and egg production. Natural light helps the hens to orientate themselves in their new location and adequate lighting in the chicken coop can encourage the hens to spend more time there.

The poultry houses manufactured by KROPPER utilise LED lamp technology that can be automatically controlled by setting the on and off times. In addition, the lighting can be controlled independently on two levels so that the hens can be directed to their location even more effectively.

7. Changing the location of the poultry house

One of the most important aspects of mobile poultry houses is that they can be moved regularly. The hens need fresh pasture so that they have access to natural food sources such as grass and worms. However, in the first few weeks after the hens are housed, major changes should be avoided, such as moving the coop to another location or housing new hens. The stability of the environment helps the hens to acclimatise to the new location and reduces stress levels.

The adaptation of hens to a new mobile henhouse is a very complex but above all crucial process that requires patience and careful observation. It is important to provide the hens with rest, constant access to fresh feed and water and safe conditions to reduce stress and speed up the adaptation process. Automated systems, such as automatic feeders, lighting and exit flaps, can make poultry house management much easier. Regular monitoring and careful adjustments are key to hen health and optimal production.