Another world’s first for farming and agriculture in
the Netherlands; this time it's a CO2-neutral chicken farm with 24.000 chickens in Castenray in the province of Limburg.
In order to achieve CO2-neutrality, specific choices have been made
regarding the farm itself and the chickens that will inhabit it. White
chickens will take up residence on the farm; this type of chicken is
lighter in terms of weight and eats less, thus saving on the amount of
feed necessary to rear the chickens.
Contributing to the eco-friendly character of the farm, the
feed given to the chickens is made from farming waste products, which
would otherwise not be used for human consumption.
The farm
features 1.097 solar panels, which will generate more energy than the
farm uses. Around 60 percent of the generated solar energy will be sold.
Fossil fuels are not used and emission of particulate matter will be
limited to an absolute minimum through the use of advanced technology
that filters the air leaving the barn.
Chickens are the inspiration for this farm, as it has been designed
according to their needs, and the Dutch animal protection agency,
Dierenbescherming, was involved during its development.
Chickens
like sunlight and are actually forest animals. To accommodate for this,
the farm design includes an indoor garden with a glass roof and trees
and tree trunks where the chickens can play.
The chickens can experience
fresh air from outside, inside the farm, but if it is nice weather they
can also venture outside and choose from two spaces to roam.
Read more: World’s first CO2-neutral chicken eggs laid in the Netherlands