At KROPPER, it all began with the dream of a modern, functional and mobile chicken coop that would truly benefit farmers.

The first models, Eko 225 and Auto-Feeder 225, were our pride and joy. They were reliable, well-designed and successfully found their way into many farms across Europe.

When we sent out offers for our larger models, the same question came up more and more often: ‘Are you planning anything smaller?’ – and so an idea was born that would change more than we could have imagined.

We knew that more and more farmers wanted to start small-scale mobile animal husbandry – economically, but without compromising on comfort and quality. So, together with our designer, we developed Eko 100 – a compact, easy-to-use and fully professional chicken coop. We never imagined that this model would change our company so much.

Simple. Robust. Well thought-through. The Eko 100 is not a ‘small version of a larger model’.
It is a project that has been thought through from the ground up: a mobile chicken coop for 106 organic chickens or 160 free-range chickens that combines reliability with intuitive operation.

Standard features include:
• a semi-automatic drinking and feeding system with 16 nipple drinkers, a 220-litre water tank and a 790-litre feed tank,
• electric flap system and LED lighting.
• touch control panel (DE/EN/PL/CZ)
• spelt nests and an emergency nest opening function.
• manure disposal system with conveyor belts,
• galvanised steel construction and walls made of 40 mm thick PIR panels with excellent insulation properties.

Details such as hinges and handles from Elesa + Ganter and control components from Siemens and Schneider guarantee years of reliability.

No wonder that the Eko 100 quickly gained popularity in Europe and became our bestseller. KROPPER chicken coops can already be found in ten European countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Czechia, Lithuania, Latvia, Switzerland, Slovenia and, most recently, Poland.

It is a unique feeling to see how an idea that originated in our production hall near Wrocław has found its way into so many farms – from the Alps to the Baltic Sea.

At the same time, we know that our customers are behind this success. Their expectations and suggestions have enabled us to develop a model that combines simplicity with practical solutions.

Eko 100 CH: Swiss precision, European quality.
Over time, the Eko 100 has gained particular recognition in Switzerland. Farmers there appreciate its durability, well-thought-out design and ease of use. To meet Swiss requirements, we have developed a special version of the Eko 100 CH that is adapted to local animal welfare regulations. In 2025, this model received official certification from the BLV (eng. Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office). This confirms that our design fully complies with Swiss standards for the keeping of laying hens.

This is a major step forward – both for us and for our customers in Switzerland, who can now use our barn legally and without restrictions in conventional farms. We are very proud of this. But this is only the beginning: we are currently working on adapting the model fully to the requirements of Bio Suisse so that our customers in Switzerland can practise certified organic farming without restrictions.

The trust that drives us every day
When we look at our production hall today and see the next Eko 100 chicken coops waiting to be transported, we are very grateful.

Thanks to you – our customers and partners – this model has become a symbol of quality that farms across Europe trust.

It is your needs and ambitions that drive our development.
Thanks to you, Eko 100 is not just a product, but proof that strength lies in simplicity and passion.

We thank you for your trust and for joining us on this journey!
The KROPPER team

Under natural conditions, chickens spend most of the day scratching, foraging, and exploring their surroundings. If they are without these activities, for example in closed housing or limited spaces, a seemingly trivial phenomenon quickly occurs: boredom. Contrary to appearances, a hen’s life is not just about laying eggs. They are curious and intelligent birds that need more than just food and a place to sleep each day. Although they don’t have a calendar, they can sense exactly when they are lacking stimulation. The result? Sometimes stress, frustration and even aggression towards other hens.

How can you tell if chickens are bored?

A lack of stimulation can lead to a number of problematic behaviours in chickens, which have a negative impact on their well-being and performance:

• Feather pecking (which can lead to cannibalism).
• Aggression within the flock and dominant behaviour
• Bullying weaker animals at the feed or water trough;
• Destruction of equipment in the chicken coop;
• Eating eggs;
• Excessive apathy or lethargy.
• Weight gain due to lack of exercise.
• Attempts to escape from the run.

This phenomenon intensifies especially in winter or when the flock has to be closed inside due to restrictions, such as an avian flu threat. Even a large, stationary run may be insufficient under such conditions. But don’t worry – a well-designed environment can help. It’s best if this environment moves. A mobile chicken coop that is regularly moved to fresh pasture is convenient for the farmer and a real playground for the birds.

1. A ground that encourages activity.

Chickens naturally like to scratch around in the ground. They search for grains and small insects, tidy up the litter and enjoy taking dust baths in the sand.

What helps them do this?

• Regular changes of pasture, so that they have a new area to explore every day.
• Dry sand or soil, which provides natural protection against parasites and is even more effective and pleasant when mixed with herbs.
• Natural materials such as leaves, straw and twigs smell wonderful and are ideal for scratching.

2. An inspiring space

No complicated constructions are required; simple, natural accessories are enough to liven up the run.

•    Shrubs, tree trunks and boxes serve as observation points and hiding places.

•    Straw bales, platforms and portable perches are ideal for jumping and resting.

Everything is easier with mobile housing: the chicken coop can be set up so that it always offers an interesting environment – a little shade, a little sun. Changes are actually possible every day! The ability to choose where to be, what to do and what to look at is extremely important for chickens.

3. Simple games with great benefits!

As previously mentioned, boredom is not enjoyable for chickens as it can lead to behavioural issues. However, you can turn a day in the chicken coop into an exciting adventure with a few clever tricks:

• Hanging vegetables
A cabbage on a string? For chickens, it’s like having a gym and a canteen all in one. They have to work hard to get their food, and that’s exactly the point!

• Sensory sprinkles:
Scattering grains under leaves or sawdust keeps the flock busy for a long time. This simple, natural solution is also very effective.

• Toys made from recycled materials
Old bottles with holes and grains or cardboard boxes with tunnels make great homemade ‘gadgets’ that can work better than expensive toys from the shop.

4. The relationship with the caretaker: it’s about more than just feeding!

Can a hen become friends with you? Yes, especially in smaller, mobile flocks. Through frequent contact with humans, chickens learn to recognise their caretaker’s face and respond to their voice. They will even follow you around the run!

With a little patience and treats, you can teach them to:

• come when called;
• jump onto your lap;
• respond to simple gestures.

This is not only nice, but also practical, as it makes caring for them and monitoring their health easier and builds trust.
You can see the effects of the above points with the naked eye!

A well-organised, interesting environment for chickens means:

• less stress,
• better condition;
• stable laying performance.

It also means a healthy, happy flock.
It also improves your customers’ perception of your business.

The approach to animal husbandry today should no longer be based only on production results. The key lies in understanding the natural behaviour and needs of animals, and in creating conditions that promote their well-being. A mobile chicken coop provides chickens with freedom of movement, a varied environment, and the opportunity to explore. This eliminates boredom and promotes health, strengthening the balance in the flock and achieving better laying performance.

When a hen feels good, everything works better – from her body to your business.

It is important to remember that today’s consumers are very discerning, so maintaining your business’s image is a worthwhile investment.

At a time of increasing environmental awareness and the quest for energy independence, photovoltaic systems are becoming increasingly popular. KROPPER’s mobile poultry houses, equipped with photovoltaic panels, are an innovative solution that allows farmers to manage their energy efficiently. Thanks to the Victron Connect app, controlling and monitoring these systems is extremely easy.

What is Victron Connect?

Victron Connect is a comprehensive software solution developed by Victron Energy that enables the monitoring, configuration and control of Victron Energy systems. It is the ideal tool for owners of mobile KROPPER poultry houses equipped with a photovoltaic system. It makes it possible to utilise the full potential of solar energy – and that is crucial if you want your mobile poultry house to be mobile in more than just name!

Main features of Victron Connect in KROPPER mobile poultry houses

1. Real-time monitoring: Victron Connect allows you to monitor the status of the solar panels and batteries in the KROPPER poultry houses in real time. The app provides detailed information on energy production, battery charge status and current energy consumption, allowing you to optimise the management of your system.
2. Intuitive configuration: The configuration of Victron Energy devices is simple and intuitive. Victron Connect makes it easy to set charging parameters and operating modes, which is particularly useful in mobile poultry houses that may require different settings depending on location and weather conditions.
3. Quick access to information on your phone: you can download the app to your phone for free and connect to the device in your poultry house via Bluetooth.

The app provides information about the charging cycles, energy consumption and the “state of health” of the batteries. With this data, it is possible to optimise the charging and discharging process and, above all, to protect the batteries from deep discharge, which occurs very frequently in autumn and winter.

Possible problems are quickly recognised by the warnings that appear when the app is opened, so that faults/failures can be detected and rectified almost immediately.

Increase energy independence

With Victron Connect, you can easily monitor your energy consumption and adjust the operation of the system according to your needs, which is particularly important in mobile KROPPER poultry houses that are often moved to different locations. The app helps you to better manage your energy storage, which increases energy independence and reduces dependence on external power sources.

The ability to change the degree of tilt of the photovoltaic panels can further help with this.

Adjusting the tilt angle of the photovoltaic panels is key to maximising their efficiency. In the KROPPER mobile poultry houses, the degree of tilt of the panels can be adjusted, as well as the direction in which they are to be directed, allowing for optimal positioning depending on the season and the angle of the sun. And with the app, this becomes really easy, as you can see whether the positioning of the panels is appropriate on your phone screen!

How do you change the degree of tilt of the panels?

It’s really easy! Once the direction in which the panel is to be positioned has been decided, its degree of tilt must be set immediately. This can be in the 0 position (the panel flat on the roof) or the degree of tilt can be adjusted infinitely from 27 to a maximum of 49 degrees. To use this function, install the two included adjustable supports, securing them with a pin.

The Vitctron Connect mobile app and the photovoltaic system in KROPPER poultry houses are the key to the independence and mobility of these machines.

Victron Connect is an invaluable tool for anyone using photovoltaic and battery systems. With its advanced monitoring and configuration features, this app enables the full potential of solar energy to be realised.

Nests are an extremely important piece of poultry housing equipment in both professional laying hen farming and hobby farming. It is important that they are properly adapted to the needs of the hens. Why do hens need nests so much?

Because they need to be provided with a suitable place to lay their eggs, and hens are a bit …. fussy in this regard. Ideally, it should be a place that is sheltered, dry and shaded.

The nest itself should be pleasant, dry and clean. A good laying nest should have two key features – firstly, it needs to be stable and solid to support the weight of the chickens, and secondly, it should be soft and comfortable so that the hens want to stay in it and then lay eggs.

What happens when hens do not have properly prepared nests?

Without a nest, the hens will look for an alternative place that they find suitable. They will usually choose a sheltered corner, not necessarily in the hen house. Free-range hens may also lay eggs in the garden or backyard, preferably in dense bushes or other clever hiding places. For the farmer, this means searching for eggs every day, as each hen has her own preferences. In many cases, the eggs may remain lost or be vulnerable to destruction by wild animals such as hedgehogs, martens or foxes. Also, in the open, some hens may drop their eggs on the hard ground or in the mud, resulting in broken or soiled eggs. And that’s probably not what healthy eggs from happy hens should look like, is it?

Nesting in our hen houses offers many benefits for both the hens and their keepers.

The hens have access to a protected and comfortable, pleasant egg-laying area that is available to them at all times or at certain times, and the farmer doesn’t have to search for eggs all over the hen house. In addition, the eggs in the nest remain clean and are protected from damage by a suitable floor or bedding.

In professional poultry houses, automatic/rolled nests are increasingly used, which are hen-friendly, easy to clean and a great convenience for the farmer. These are modern nests whose floor is covered with a special mat on which spelt no longer has to be spilled. The eggs, immediately after laying, roll into a special room, a safe zone to which the hen no longer has access. Such nests can also be easily programmed to open and close at predetermined times, thus avoiding frequent checking that the eggs are safe (as in classic, litter nests). Automatic nests are more practical, especially in terms of cleaning or disinfection. Classic spelt nests, on the other hand, mainly provide protection for the hen’s cloaca against pecking, and spelt or other bedding makes the hen feel very comfortable in the nest.

However, it is not the type of nest that is most important here.

Hens are most likely to choose nests that they can easily access, where they feel safe and where the bedding/mat is clean. They are unwilling to lay in nests that are dirty and have rarely replaced damp bedding. The amount of space for the hen in a given nest is also very important. It is therefore important to take into account not only what kind of nest for the hens to choose, but also – how many nests there should be. At least one nest should be for every seven hens and if group nests are used, at least 1m2 of nest space should be provided for up to 120 hens.

It is also important to change the bedding or clean the mats regularly and add some diatomaceous earth for good hygiene and protection against parasites.

In conclusion, when choosing nests, it should not be forgotten that they are a place where hens rest, calm down and lay eggs. Therefore, it is important that the nests are hen-friendly and, above all, clean. A clean nest is a guarantee of top-quality egg production, whereas a filthy nest, contaminated with dirt, can result in hens not wanting to lay eggs or in eggs not being adequately protected from parasites. Although the farmer will not be laying eggs in the nest, the nest should still be at a convenient height to allow free egg collection and litter exchange. In addition, it should also not take long to dismantle for cleaning or disinfection.

Clean nests mean clean eggs. Comfortable nests mean high laying rates. All of these factors contribute to the profitability of laying hen farming. An interesting fact is that hens are creatures that get used quickly, so once they get used to a particular nest, they will usually lay eggs there every day.

Poultry farming is one of the largest meat production sectors in the world, and the rearing of laying hens is an important part of this industry. However, with the growing interest in ethical issues related to food production, consumers are increasingly interested in knowing how the hens whose eggs they consume are kept. Therefore, ensuring good husbandry and welfare of laying hens has become a priority for producers, and compliance with relevant regulations and standards is the path to customer satisfaction.

The size of the run for laying hens is regulated by law and the requirements vary depending on the type of husbandry. The Animal Welfare Farming Ordinance stipulates a minimum of 4 square metres of outdoor space per hen in both free-range and organic husbandry – in line with EU regulation. However, 8-10 square metres of outdoor space per hen is recommended, which offers the hens more comfort, space to play and access to fresh grass.

By providing the chickens with a larger run, you also take care of your meadow. It doesn’t need as much recovery time when the chickens are scattered on it and you can soon put the mobile chicken coop back in the same area. Of course, it is important to change the location of the mobile chicken coop and run every 2 – 3 weeks.  However, if it so happens that the sward has been destroyed, it is worth re-seeding it. For this purpose, there are special grass mixtures for poultry runs that contain a high percentage of grasses that fill in the gaps quickly. It is important to fence off these areas at the outset so that dense grass can develop.

However, it is important to know that not only the size of the outdoor area is important, but also how it is managed. In free-range systems, the chickens must have unlimited access to the run during the day, from dawn to dusk.

It would be good if the area where the chickens are kept is overgrown with trees or bushes and, above all, well fenced. The fence should make it difficult for enemies of the chickens, such as foxes or martens, to enter, and the distance between the exit of the chicken coop and the run should not be more than 150 metres, unless you provide additional shelter for the hens, in which case it can be up to 300 metres. However, it is also important to remember that a large run without shelters will cause the hens to fear for their safety and therefore not use the space provided to them. Shelters do not have to be complicated constructions, but can be, for example, simple wooden roofs under which the hens seek protection from danger or too much sunlight.

It would be good if the space under the shelters was large enough for the hens to take their sand baths underneath, which contribute to the hygiene of their feathers. Artificial elements can also be used to structure the pasture. These have the advantage that the sward can regenerate, as they are movable. Different objects such as hutches, wagons, stretched tarpaulins, camouflage or windbreak nets as well as covered sand baths are suitable. If the choice of different structures is large, the chicken is more likely to find a suitable shelter for itself.

It is also important to ensure that in such a large free-range area, the laying hens have access to fresh water and adequate feed. The water should be clean and available at all times and the feed properly balanced. Other forms of food can also be used as a form of free-range play – such as a basket of cabbage or carrots.

In summary, good conditions for rearing laying hens are crucial for the health and welfare of these animals and for consumer satisfaction with the quality of the eggs. Farmers should comply with the relevant regulations on outdoor space size, land management, access to water and feed. This is the only way to ensure that chickens live in good conditions, which is reflected in the health and quality of the eggs and the satisfaction of the final consumers.