[Fundamental ethological and ecological aspects for the husbandry of domestic animals, especially for hens]

The significance of ethology applied to farm animals is demonstrated from 1. a broader point of view and 2. focussed on the management of poultry. The topic of animal ethology is the study of their behaviour. Basic functions of animal behaviour are satisfaction of their requirements and needs including reproduction and avoidance of harm. A significant task for ethologists is the scientific elaboration of the animals' interactions with their surrounding, in their keeping system. The documented information aim to show how to satisfy the basic behavioural and physiological needs of hens and how to produce eggs of high quality in adequate quantity in respect also to the environment.