Lebenshilfe Huehnerei

Projektträger: Lebenshilfe Tirol gem. GesmbH

Verantwortliche*r: Christian Schneider

2024

Nominiert

AT

Zivilgesellschaft / Sozialwirtschaft

Worum geht es?

Menschen mit und ohne Behinderungen züchten alte und bedrohte Hühnerarten. Sie übernehmen dabei aktiv Verantwortung für den Artenschutz, pflegen die Hühner und kümmern sich um die Instandhaltung der Ställe. Außerdem agieren Menschen mit Behinderungen als Expert/innen und vermitteln ihr Wissen an junge Personen, die in Schulen und Kindergärten durch begleitete Brutprojekte Erfahrungen und neue Fertigkeiten sammeln können. Als Vorzeigeprojekt mit hohem Expertenwissen profitieren zudem europaweit Hühnerzüchter/innen vom Brutversand dieser Hühnerarten.

Herausforderung

Chicken breeds are threatened with extinction because pedigree chickens cannot lay large quantities of eggs. For this reason, so-called hybrid chickens have been bred for many years, which lay up to 300 eggs per year and generate more profit. 

Idee

People with disabilities ensure the survival of endangered chicken species sheltered in in-house barns, where a European-wide brood dispatch service is offered. Moreover, we organise breeding projects in collaboration with schools and kindergartens in the region. Some of the chickens bred are also sold on the regional livestock market. 

Akteur*innen

The project enables people with disabilities to become active players in safeguarding biodiversity. They take responsibility for rearing chickens and serve as community experts. The work in the barns is well received by clients, as contact with animals is calming and stablising. 

Wirkung

Since 2011, 19 clients have participated in the project and supported species conservation. 13 kindergartens and schools benefited from 20 breeding projects, which increased the participation of people with disabilities in society. Eleven chicken breeds were revitalised and are no longer considered endangered. 

Transfer

People with disabilities are community experts; they show children in kindergartens and schools how chickens are bred and cared for. Young people learn to appreciate domestic farm animals and increase their awareness of the importance of biodiversity. The project can thus be carried out in other regions in Europe.