Poultry HousingPoultry Housing

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES To know about need of housing for poultry To know about need of housing for poultry

production production Different types of poultry houses Different types of poultry houses Location and layout of poultry houses Location and layout of poultry houses Floor space requirement Floor space requirement Different systems of rearing with relative Different systems of rearing with relative

advantage and disadvantages.  advantage and disadvantages. 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF POULTRY HOUSESPOULTRY HOUSES

Brooder/chick house Brooder/chick house – It is used to brood and rear egg-type chicks from 0 to 8 weeks It is used to brood and rear egg-type chicks from 0 to 8 weeks

of age. of age. Grower houseGrower house

– It is used to grow egg-type birds from 9 to 18 weeks of age. It is used to grow egg-type birds from 9 to 18 weeks of age. Brooder cum grower houseBrooder cum grower house Here, the birds are reared from 0 to 18 weeks of age Here, the birds are reared from 0 to 18 weeks of age

(entire brooding and growing period of egg-type chicken(entire brooding and growing period of egg-type chicken

Layer houseLayer house – In which birds over 18 weeks of age are reared, In which birds over 18 weeks of age are reared,

usually up to 72 weeks of age. usually up to 72 weeks of age. Broiler houseBroiler house

– In which broilers (meat-type birds) are reared up In which broilers (meat-type birds) are reared up to 5/6 weeks of age. to 5/6 weeks of age.

Breeder houseBreeder house – In which both male and female breeders are In which both male and female breeders are

maintained at appropriate sex ratio. maintained at appropriate sex ratio. Environmentally controlled (EC) houseEnvironmentally controlled (EC) house

– In which, entire environment is manipulated in In which, entire environment is manipulated in such a way that is optimum for the birds growth. such a way that is optimum for the birds growth.

Systems of poultry housingSystems of poultry housing

FACTORSFACTORS Poultry can be housed under different Poultry can be housed under different

systems based on following factors: systems based on following factors: – Availability of land Availability of land – Cost of land Cost of land – Type of farming activity Type of farming activity – Climatic condition Climatic condition – Labour availability Labour availability

Folding-unit system:Folding-unit system: This system of housing is an innovation of This system of housing is an innovation of

recent years. recent years.

In portable folding units birds being confined In portable folding units birds being confined to one small run, the position is changed each to one small run, the position is changed each day, giving them fresh ground and the birds day, giving them fresh ground and the birds find a considerable proportion of food from the find a considerable proportion of food from the herbage .herbage .

The most convenient folding unit to handle The most convenient folding unit to handle is that which is made for 25 hens. is that which is made for 25 hens.

A floor space of 1 square foot should be A floor space of 1 square foot should be allowed for each bird in the house, and 3 allowed for each bird in the house, and 3 square feet in the run, so that a total floor square feet in the run, so that a total floor space to the whole unit is 4 square feet per space to the whole unit is 4 square feet per bird, as with the intensive system.bird, as with the intensive system.

A suitable measurement for a folding house to A suitable measurement for a folding house to take 25 birds is 5 feet wide and 20 feet long, the take 25 birds is 5 feet wide and 20 feet long, the house being 5’ x 5’, one-third of the run. house being 5’ x 5’, one-third of the run.

Disadvantages Disadvantages The food and water must be carried out to the The food and water must be carried out to the

birds and eggs brought back. birds and eggs brought back. There is some extra labour involved in the regular There is some extra labour involved in the regular

moving of the fold units.moving of the fold units. More expensiveMore expensive

INTENSIVE SYSTEM Birds are totally confined to houses either on

ground / floor or on wire-netting floor in cages or on slats.

It is the most efficient, convenient and economical system for modern poultry production with huge numbers.

Advantages

Minimum land is required for farming. Farms can be located near market area. Day-to-day management is easier. The production performance is higher as

more energy is saved due to restricted movements.

Scientific management practices like breeding, feeding, medication, culling etc. can be applied easily and accurately.

The sick birds can be detected, isolated and treated easily.

Disadvantages

Birds’ welfare is affected. They can not perform the natural behaviour like roosting, spreading wings, scratching the floor with legs etc.

Since they are not exposed to outside sunlight and feed sources, all the nutrients should be provided in balanced manner to avoid nutritionally deficient diseases.

Chances for spreading of diseases are more.

Deep litter system: In this system the poultry birds are reared on floor covered with litters like straw, saw dust or leaves up to depth of 8-12 inches.

we can define deep litter, as the accumulation of the material used for litter with poultry manure until it reaches a depth of 8 to 12 inches.

Suitable dry organic materials like straw (needs to be Suitable dry organic materials like straw (needs to be cut into 2 or 3 inch lengths), saw dust, leaves, dry cut into 2 or 3 inch lengths), saw dust, leaves, dry grasses, groundnut shells, broken up maize stalks and grasses, groundnut shells, broken up maize stalks and cobs, bark of trees in sufficient quantity to give a depth cobs, bark of trees in sufficient quantity to give a depth of about 6 inches in the pen should be used. of about 6 inches in the pen should be used.

The droppings of the birds gradually combine with the The droppings of the birds gradually combine with the materials used to build up the litter. In about 2 materials used to build up the litter. In about 2 months, it has usually become deep litter, and by 6 months, it has usually become deep litter, and by 6 months it has become built-up deep litter. At about 12 months it has become built-up deep litter. At about 12 months of old stage it is fully built up. Extra litter months of old stage it is fully built up. Extra litter materials can be added to maintain sufficient materials can be added to maintain sufficient depth.depth.

The deep litter pen should be started when the weather is dry, and is likely to remain so for about 2 months for the operation of the bacterial action, which alters the composition of the litters. Start new litter with each year’s pullets and continue with it for their laying period.

Advantages of Deep Litter System:

Birds and eggs are safety as enclosed in deep litter intensive pen, which has strong wire netting or expanded metal.

Built-up deep litter also supplies some of the food requirements of the birds. They obtain "Animal Protein Factor" from deep litter.

The level of coccidiosis and worm infestation is much lower with poultry kept on good deep litter than with birds (or chicken) in bare yards. Well managed deep litter kept in dry condition with no wet spots around waterer has a sterilising action. .

With correct conditions observed with well managed litter there is no need to clean a pen out for a whole year; the only attention is the regular stirring and adding of some material as needed.

Generally 35 laying birds can produce in one year about 1 tonne of deep litter fertilizer. The level of nitrogen in fresh manure is about 1%, but on well built-up deep litter it may be around 3% nitrogen (nearly 20% protein). It also contains about 2% phosphorus and 2% potash. Its value is about 3 times that of cattle manure.

It is a valuable insulating agent, the litter maintains its own constant temperature, so birds burrow into it when the air temperature is high and thereby cool themselves. Conversely, they can warm themselves in the same way when the weather is very cool

There will be no incident of breast blisters.

There will be no problem in cage layer fatigue.

Initial investment will be less when the land cost is low

Disadvantages

Housing density is lower than the cage system.There will be more feed wastage during spillingLitter-born diseases can occur, especially coccideosis, costing severe economic loss particularly in broiler industry.Disease spread faster due to mainly to free movements.Incidence of unclean or soiled eggs is higher.Birds consume more feed since they move about more freely wasting some energy; hence feed efficiency is inferior to the birds in cages.

Cage systemCage systemAdvantages :Advantages : Easy egg collectionEasy egg collection Less problem due to cannibolismLess problem due to cannibolism No nest requirementNo nest requirement Record individual bird performanceRecord individual bird performance Better labor utilizationBetter labor utilization Low parasitic infectionLow parasitic infection Elimination of broodinessElimination of broodiness Avoidance of litter and its problemsAvoidance of litter and its problems

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

More heat stress in summerFly problemIncidence of broken egg is moreCage layer fatigueFatty liver syndromePoor shell qualityDifficulty in manure disposal

25 KVA GENERTOR

25 KVA GENERTOR

FOOT BATH

CURTAIN

PULLEY TO OPERATE THE CURTAIN

FEED SILO

FEED SILO

COOLING PAD

SWITCH TO OPERATE THE SILO

FEED BIN

AUGER FEEDER

FEEDER

OVERHEAD WATER TANK

MEDICATION PUMP

DRINKER- NIPPLE WITH CUP

DRINKER- NIPPLE WITH CUP

ELECTRICAL BROODER

ELECTRICAL BROODER

ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL

ELECTRONIC CONTROL PANEL

ELECTRONIC CONTROL PANEL

ELECTRONIC CONTROL PANEL

EXHAUST FANS

EXHAUST FANS

EXHAUST FAN

FALSE ROOFING

TEMPERATURE SENSOR

HUMIDITY SENSOR

HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT HOOK

COOLING PAD

LAYOUT OF POULTRY FARMLAYOUT OF POULTRY FARM

A small size poultry farm doesn’t require any A small size poultry farm doesn’t require any special layout as it involves construction of special layout as it involves construction of only one house.only one house.

The medium and large size farms require The medium and large size farms require special considerations for placement of special considerations for placement of building in the farm premises.building in the farm premises.

The basic principles to be observed for layout The basic principles to be observed for layout are, are,

– Layout should not allow visitors or outside Layout should not allow visitors or outside vehicles near the birds. vehicles near the birds.

– The sheds should be so located that the fresh The sheds should be so located that the fresh air first passes through the brooder shed, air first passes through the brooder shed, followed by grower and layer sheds. This will followed by grower and layer sheds. This will prevent the spread of diseases from layer prevent the spread of diseases from layer houses to brooder house. houses to brooder house.

– There should be a minimum distance of 50-100 There should be a minimum distance of 50-100 feet between chick and grower shed and the feet between chick and grower shed and the distance between grower and layer sheds should distance between grower and layer sheds should be of minimum 100 metre. be of minimum 100 metre.

– The egg store room, office room and the feed The egg store room, office room and the feed store room should be located near entrance to store room should be located near entrance to minimize the movement of people around the minimize the movement of people around the poultry sheds. poultry sheds.

– The disposal pit and sick room should be The disposal pit and sick room should be constructed only at the extreme end of the site. constructed only at the extreme end of the site.

OrientationOrientation

Poultry houses are constructed with their Poultry houses are constructed with their long axis is in E-W direction.long axis is in E-W direction.

To obviate direct sun light, draft and rain fall To obviate direct sun light, draft and rain fall into the building.into the building.

Open-sided housesOpen-sided housesVery popular in our country.Very popular in our country.Cheaper in construction and maintenance.Cheaper in construction and maintenance.

SizeSize Each broiler require one square foot of floor Each broiler require one square foot of floor

space while a layer requires two square feet space while a layer requires two square feet of floor space under deep-litter system of of floor space under deep-litter system of rearing. So the size of the house depends on rearing. So the size of the house depends on the number of birds to be reared. the number of birds to be reared.   

Length Length The length of the house can be of any The length of the house can be of any

extent. The number of birds reared and extent. The number of birds reared and availability of the land determines the length availability of the land determines the length of poultry house. of poultry house.

RoofsRoofs The roof must be draft and moisture proof.The roof must be draft and moisture proof. Insulation of roof helps in both summer and winterInsulation of roof helps in both summer and winter To reflect as much heat as possible, the roof To reflect as much heat as possible, the roof

should painted with reflecting type of paint such as should painted with reflecting type of paint such as Al paint.Al paint.

RoofsRoofs Thatched roof is cheap but not durable.Thatched roof is cheap but not durable. It is good for low rain fall areas.It is good for low rain fall areas. Is not vermin proof and exposed to fire Is not vermin proof and exposed to fire

hazards.hazards.

RoofsRoofs Asbestos or cement board roofs do not radiate as Asbestos or cement board roofs do not radiate as

much as heat as metal roofing to birds in a poultry much as heat as metal roofing to birds in a poultry house, more desirable for poultry roofs.house, more desirable for poultry roofs.

Can be improved by adding insulation and painting or Can be improved by adding insulation and painting or covering with thatch.covering with thatch.

RoofsRoofsMetal roofs are good radiators unless insulated Metal roofs are good radiators unless insulated

not recommended as roofing materials.not recommended as roofing materials.Even with insulation , the outside of the roof Even with insulation , the outside of the roof

should be painted white to aid in keeping it cool.should be painted white to aid in keeping it cool.

Different types of roofs are Shed, Gable, Different types of roofs are Shed, Gable, half-monitor, full-monitor (Monitor), Flat half-monitor, full-monitor (Monitor), Flat concrete, Gambrel, Gothic etc. concrete, Gambrel, Gothic etc.

Monitor type is mostly preferred in tropical Monitor type is mostly preferred in tropical countries like Indiacountries like India

Overhang Overhang The overhang of the roof should not be less The overhang of the roof should not be less

than 3.5 feet in order to prevent the entry of rain than 3.5 feet in order to prevent the entry of rain water into the shed. water into the shed.

OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR REARING BROILERSFOR REARING BROILERS

Temperature - 22-30Temperature - 22-3000C (70-85C (70-8500F) F) Relative Humidity - 30-60 % Relative Humidity - 30-60 % Ammonia level - Less than 25 ppm Ammonia level - Less than 25 ppm Litter moisture - 15-25% Litter moisture - 15-25% Air flow - 10-30 metres/minute Air flow - 10-30 metres/minute

Brooding

Types of Brooding

Depending upon the season, brooding practices vary in tropical countries where large conventional open housing is normally practiced.

Winter : Use 1/3 area of the house for brooding.Summer : Use 1/2 area of the house for brooding.

In view of fast growth and high rate of metabolism,commercial broilers need special attention for provision of enough ventilation.

Brooder Management

Start and adjust the brooder stoves 24 hours before thearrival of chicks.

Ensure that they are working properly.

Adjust the temperature to 95°F (35°C) at the edge of thebrooder 2" (5 cm) above the litter.

Lower the temperature by 5°F (2.8°C) each week until itreaches 70°F.

Brooder Guard

Make the guards from material which can be properly sterilised.

Height of guard should be approximately 16" to 18“

Guards will ensure chicks stay near the source of heat

Help in preventing chilling and piling

The following illustration is given as a guide for the placement of equipments around the brooder during the early brooding stages.

Cage Brooding

Before the birds arrive, prepare the house as follows:

1. Put nonskid paper on the bottom of the cage. This paper may disintegrate and fall through the cage bottom or it should be removed at beak trimming time (10 days).

2. Start the heating system 24 hours before the birds arrive.Adjust the temperature to 33-34ºC (91.4-93.2ºF.).

3. Keep the relative humidity at 50% minimum. In cage brooding, adequate humidity is very important.

Temperature Management

In a cage or warm room brooding system, reduce the temperature 3ºC (5ºF.) per week from 34ºC (93.2ºF.) until 21ºC (70ºF.) isreached.

Look for signs of overheating (panting and drowsiness)or chilling (huddling) and make appropriate adjustments.

Heat control is more critical in cage brooding because the chicks cannot move to find their comfort zone.

Maintain adequate humidity if you brood in cages. Relative humidity for cage brooding must be maintained at 40-60%.

If necessary, sprinkle water on the walks or floors to increase humidity.

ThankyouThankyou