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ItalianoUpdated on 30.07.2024
Under the name "I hob an Vogel", you can rent a chicken in Brixlegg to provide fresh eggs. The chicken sponsorship is Gerda Rebitsch's regional response to factory farming. The project aims to bring consumers and farm animals closer together again. As a result, old chicken breeds threatened with extinction are experiencing a revival.
A paradise for chickens, rabbits, ponies and people
Behind the gates of the old farm, which is located near the Matzenpark in Brixlegg, you can hear clucking and scratching. As you enter the property, the view opens up onto grass-green fields that are a veritable Eldorado for the pecking two-legged friends. More than ten different breeds of hens live here, some with funny tufts of hair on their legs, all in black or with creamy yellow feathers on their heads. It is Gerda Rebitsch's hen farm,where everyone has a birdTheBrixlegg native has been running the farm for several years. Rebitsch has created a small kingdom for herself with her family and over 200 poultry. The special thing about it is that "everyone who gets fresh eggs automatically has a bird," laughs Gerda. Because you can only get the coveted eggs of rare chicken breeds if you sponsor a hen. There is a simple principle behind this, which she explains as follows: "People who take responsibility for an animal also appreciate the product more." And many customers now appreciate the product, as the colourful flock of hens lays over 70 eggs a day.
From the idea to realisation
It all started with ten hens. "I wanted to be sure that my breakfast egg came from happy hens," she explains. But that wasn't enough. During her maternity leave, she had enough time to familiarise herself with the subject of chicken farming. And as a trained historian, she soon turned it into a proper degree programme. "I'm fascinated by the many old chicken breeds that hardly anyone still knows today."
Colourful chicks and exotic birds with evocative names
These include the robust "Sundheimer chickens", whose feathered legs make them visually extravagant contemporaries. The "Cuckoo Sparrowhawk" is also one of the breeds threatened with extinction. With its grey plumage, the once popular meat breed actually resembles the forest bird. The "Marans", which weigh up to four kilos and are particularly known for their dark-coloured eggs, are real eye-catchers. The thick shell protects the eggs and they therefore have a particularly long shelf life. All the hens and cockerels were hatched on the farm and raised in the flock. Among the many colourful hens are roosters and small chicks, which live in small groups on the farm in a species-appropriate way. The chickens are fed a broad diet. Organic grains, grass from the meadow and organic rubbish are on the menu. In addition, neighbouring Spar supermarkets deliver crates of fruit and vegetables that are no longer suitable for the shelves, but are top produce for the hens.
Sponsorship for the rental hens
However, because the old breeds are more demanding to keep, need more feed and produce less output, i.e. eggs, Rebitsch came up with the idea of sponsorship.
"You choose a chicken, give it a name and can get fresh eggs every week," says Rebisch in brief. So that you can actually tell your chicken apart from the others, it is given an individual colourful plastic ring around its leg. You can pick up a carton of six eggs every week. The eggs have different colours depending on the breed. The sponsorship lasts until the hen is 16 months old. After that, the moult begins, which means that she does not lay any eggs during this time. "You can either get a new hen or rent an old lady." You can get one for half the price because she only has half the egg production after moulting. A chicken can live up to ten years. And of course you can visit your hen on the farm at any time. Fun that benefits both humans and animals in the long term.
Children's birthday parties at the Hennen-Hof
Gerda Rebitsch's hen farm also offers the opportunity to celebrate unforgettable children's birthday parties by prior arrangement. The children can get to know the different breeds of hens, feed them and even get their own breakfast egg straight from the nest. In addition, free-range rabbits provide further fun and excitement for the little guests. Pony rides and a ride on the tractor are not to be missed. A birthday on the farm is a special experience that teaches children about nature and how to treat animals with respect.
Further information at:https://ihobanvogel.at/