Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The author's Kingbird Farm pullet house.
What is outdoor access and why is it important? Not only the NOSB, but the Humane Soci-
ety of the United States (HSUS) issued its own recommendations based on the work of M. C.
Appleby, who carried out research on behavior, housing, and welfare of poultry for twenty
years at the University of Edinburgh, a bastion of livestock-welfare research. The HSUS voiced
support for all four principles that the NOSB had listed as the intent of the outdoor-access re-
commendation:
1. To satisfy poultry's natural behavior patterns (i.e., foraging, dusting, and exploration).
2. To provide adequate exercise area (foot condition and wing and leg-bone strength).
3. To provide preventative health-care benefits (reduction of stress, strengthened immunity, and var-
ied nutrition).
4. To answer consumer expectations of organic livestock management.
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There are several arguments against outdoor access made by large producers trying to adapt
to the new federal rule. Many large, barn-based operations that were certified organic prior to
the implementation of the federal rule were large open aviary-style setups that provided deep
litter, dusting areas, roosts, and natural light and ventilation, but no outdoor access. Providing
such large concentrations of birds with any sort of viable range may be nearly impossible.
Yarding and dirt runs often create “fowl-sick” land and a situation that may actually be inferior
to confining the birds to deep-litter floors. During discussion on changing the definition of out-
