In 1918, the first nationwide poultry census counted almost 2.5 million chickens (i.e. hens, geese and ducks). In relation to the number of owners, this meant that poultry farming was then the numerically most important sector of livestock farming in Switzerland. Until after the Second World War, the numbers continued to grow, both in absolute and relative terms, going from 10 birds per owner in 1918 to 22 in 1936. It is estimated that the requirement at that time was around 8 laying hens per family.