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HOW MUCH FLOOR SPACE NEEDS A BROILER CHICKEN?

Conference Paper · July 2011

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4485.0240

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 1081

HOW MUCH FLOOR SPACE NEEDS A BROILER CHICKEN?

Spindler, B.1, Briese, A.2 and Hartung, J.1

1
Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour,
University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Germany
2
Bri-C Veterinärinstitut, Sarstedt, Germany

SUMMARY

Stocking density is one of the most disputed criteria in
broiler production. But little is known about the real floor
space covered by a sitting or standing broiler. This paper
gives realistic figures on the floor space covered by
broilers in various body positions, age and weight in the
course of fattening. The measurements were carried out
by the KobaPlan colour contrast planimetric method
(KobaPlan). 1550 broiler chickens (genotype Ross 308)
were weighted and photographed digitally in a photo box.
The birds were between 10 and 40 days old. The results
showed a linear correlation between floor space covered
by the broilers and bodyweight (R² = 0.99). The mean
floor space for standing broilers with a weight of 100g was
74 cm², with 1000g 203 cm², with 2000g 320 cm² and
with 2500g 372 cm². The covered floor area in sitting
position was approx. 25 cm² larger. When broilers are
raised for a stocking density of 42 kg/m² and a target
bodyweight of 1.5 kg according to the EU Directive
2007/43/EG less than 1/3 of a square metre are not
covered by broilers. The described method seems to
provide reliable data for the calculation of animal density
in broiler production. The figures show that the free space
allowed for the birds in last days of the fattening period
for behavioural activities like dust bathing or wing flapping
is very limited. The results give cause for concern whether
the behavioural needs of broiler chicken can be met under
these conditions and for reconsidering the currently
allowed high bird density at the end of fattening in the EU
Directive.

INTRODUCTION

Stocking density is one of the most disputed criteria in
broiler production. The EU Directive 2007/43/EG (EU-CD)
[2] allows stocking densities up to 42 kg/m² when certain
keeping and management conditions are met. However
little is known about the real floor space covered by a
sitting or standing broiler in the course of fattening. This
paper describes a method how to measure the floor space
covered by the body of a broiler during fattening and
compares the covered area with the free space at
different stocking densities (SD) and bodyweights of the
birds.

ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

1550 broiler chickens (genotype Ross 308) were weighted,
placed individually in a special photo box with a black floor
(1.0m x 1.0m 0.40m) and photographed digitally in order
to measure the floor space which was covered by the
body of standing and sitting broilers. The white-feathered
broilers gave a strong contrast to the dark floor of the
box. that was designed, lightened and floored to provide
high contrast pictures which were stored in a PC (Picture
1 and 2). The method is called KobaPlan colour contrast
planimetry [1] and uses a digital camera (OLYMPUS, E-
410, 17,5-45mm Objective, 10,0 Mega pixel, Co. Olympus
Optical Co GmbH, D-Hamburg), mounted on a metal
frame with a stationary fixed distance above the floor of
the box (1.50m). All images were taken from top view
(Picture 3). For better visualisation the program colours
the recorded pixels blue (Picture 4). This helps to
recognise defaulted photos which can be eliminated
before analysis. The birds were between 10 and 40 days
old. They were randomly selected from commercial herds
weighted and placed in the box.
As reference area the defined surface of a sheet of paper
(DIN A5 = 310.80cm² or DIN A4 = 623.70cm²) was used.
This sheet of paper was photographed (once for every
series of measurements) with the same adjustments as
the birds in the box and stored in the PC (Picture 5). The
program colours the recorded pixels blue (Picture 6). The
digital images of the broilers and the reference values
were analysed by the KobaPlan software which calculates
the surface of the sitting and standing broilers according
to the rule of proportion.
1082

Pictures 1 and 2: Photo box in the broiler barn with metal frame for fixing the digital camera above the broilers

Pictures 3 and 4: Digital image from top view of a broiler (40 days old) in standing position in the box (Picture left), Picture right
shows the same broiler after digital modelling by the KobaPlan software in blue colour

Pictures 5 and 6: Digital top view image of a reference area (paper sheet: DIN A4 = 623.70 cm²) in the box (Picture left) and after modelling by the
KobaPlan software (Picture right).

RESULTS

The results show a linear correlation between floor space
covered by the broilers and bodyweight (R² = 0.99). The
mean floor space covered by standing broilers with a
weight of 100g was 74 cm², with 1000g 203 cm², with
2000g 320 cm² and with 2500g 372 cm² (Table 1).
Sitting broilers covered a floor area which was approx. 25
cm² larger.
The free space per m² which can be used by the birds for
activities and movement decreases with increasing
stocking densities from 33 kg/m², 39 kg/m² and up to 42
kg/m² (EU Directive 2007/43/EG). When broilers are
raised for a stocking density of 42 kg/m² and a target
bodyweight of 1.5 kg about 29% of a square metre are
not covered by the body of the broilers. In contrast a long
fattening period with a target weight of 2.5 kg at the end
of fattening and a stocking density of 33 kg/m² (13
broiler/m²) results in 52% free area per m².
 1083

Table 1: Floor space covered by broilers (Ross 308) in standing and sitting position and live weights between 100g and 3500g
Floor space covered Floor space covered
by standing broilers (cm²) by sitting broilers (cm²)
Live Mean Mean
weight (g) n (Standard deviation) Range n (Standard deviation) Range
100 16 73.58 (4.98) 65.85 - 80.61 0 / /
500 89 143.21 (19.12) 107.85 - 215.96 14 142.29 (20.76) 121.88 - 193.55
1000 86 203.25 (22.40) 145.69 - 309.83 75 226.41 (43.39) 145.12 - 416.04
1500 69 254.62 (25.56) 195.11 - 309.63 64 277.60 (37.12) 180.09 - 380.18
2000 77 320.41 (35.44) 212.73 - 419.89 76 332.18 (42.49) 245.46 - 508.59
2500 56 371.65 (39.58) 289.17 - 503.21 55 400.59 (35.22) 319.91 - 498.85
3000 17 429.87 (39.27) 362.50 - 487.32 16 445.37 (35.45) 393.14 - 495.77
3500 1 507.25 / 1 506.17 /

DISCUSSION

The free floor space for broiler chickens (Ross 308) in
confined buildings decreases with the growth of the
broilers in the course of the fattening period. There exists
a linear correlation between floor space covered by a
broiler and bodyweight throughout the fattening period.
The used KobaPlan method seems to be a further step
forward to an objective measurement. KobaPlan based on
a large random sample delivers areas covered by a broiler
which are about 100 cm² lower than reported in literature
earlier [3]. Reasons for these differences may be caused
by different measurement practices - manually versus
automatically- smaller sample size as well as genetic
influences.

CONCLUSIONS

The described method seems to provide reliable data on
animal density in broiler production during the course and
at the end of fattening. The figures show that the space
allowance for broilers in the last days of fattening is very
limited for behavioural activities like dust bathing or wing
flapping, in particular during short fattening in
combination with the high stocking density of 42 kg/m² as
allowed in the EU-Directive,. The results give cause to
reconsider behavioural needs of broiler chicken and to
scrutinise some of the current space allowances in the EU
Directive.

REFERENCES

1. BRIESE, A. and HARTUNG, J. (2009): Measurement of floor space allowance of Lohmann Silver hens using biometric data - Berl Münch Tierärztl
Wochenschr (122), 241-248
2. COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2007/43/EC (2007): Richtlinie 2007/43/EG des Rates vom 28.Juni 2007 mit Mindestvorschriften zum Schutz von
Masthühnern.
3. PETERMANN, S and ROMIMG, L. (1993): Untersuchungen zur Masthühnerhaltung im Regierungsbezirk Weser-Ems, Tierschutzrelevante Aspekte
- Bericht an das Niedersächsische Landwirtschaftsministerium

This research was supported by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Rural Areas, Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer
Protection (Niedersachsen), Germany

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