Charente Maritime department of France, December 2022
During the 2021-2022 planting season, 3,585 trees were planted between seven farmers. The ‘active’ chicken run combines poultry farming and tree planting on the same plot of land. Within the runs, different types of trees of several different species, including fruit species, are planted as hedges, small copses, or in rows on the plot.
‘Active’ chicken runs have many objectives and advantages, namely:
- better animal welfare and protection of poultry (less stress, predators, wind, bad weather, heat),
- more biodiversity thanks to significant species diversification
- diversified production (fruit, biomass, timber)
- diversified food sources for poultry (fallen fruit)
- protection of water resources and curbing diffuse pollution
Well-designed ‘active’ chicken runs also bring farmers closer to consumers and local inhabitants, as well as giving them a sense of pride in their work and farming practices.
Today we’d like to introduce you to two farmers working in two departments in France: Vanessa from Charente Maritime and Rodolph from Deux-Sèvres.
Poultry in mobile huts under fruit trees
Vanessa runs a workshop with 200 laying hens in 4 mobile huts, as well as growing vegetables on plots of land. The huts are mobile and will be moved once or twice a year so the chickens can explore all Vanessa’s land. Planting was an obvious choice for her; she had already planted hedging around her plots. With your support, she could take further steps and indeed planted 157 field and fruit trees of 11 different species, e.g. apple, cherry, walnut, , small-leaf lime, blackcurrant and hazelnut. These trees will boost both biodiversity on the land and the well-being of the poultry… and Vanessa too!
Walnut trees and poultry, a winning combination
Rodolph is a newcomer to poultry. He has been running an organic farm since 1997. He also grows cereal crops and works with a local baker. He makes coloured pasta using the different ancient varieties of wheat grown on his farm. More recently, he joined a study group of farmers working on hedges and their impact on field crops (especially protection from drought). In addition to planting hawthorn, elder, and hazelnut trees, he has planted 555 chestnut trees in his poultry runs to provide shade for the hens and diversify his business.
