Generally four systems of poultry housing followed among the poultry keepers.

The type of housing adopted depends to a large extent on the amount of ground and the capital available. Types of poultry housing: 1. 2. 3. 4. Free range or extensive system Semi - intensive system Folding unit system Intensive system

A. Battery system

B. Deep litter system

Deep litter system: In this system the poultry birds are kept in large pens up to 250 birds each, on floor covered with litters like straw, saw dust or leaves up to depth of 8-12 inches. Deep litter resembles to dry compost. In other words, 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. The build-up has to be carried out correctly to give desired results, which takes very little attention. Suitable dry organic materials like straw (needs to be cut into 2 or 3 inch lengths), saw dust, leaves, dry grasses, groundnut shells, broken up maize stalks and cobs, bark of trees in sufficient quantity to give a depth of about 6 inches in the pen should be used. The droppings of the birds gradually combine with the materials used to build up the litter. In about 2 months, it has usually become deep litter, and by 6 months it has become built-up deep litter. At about 12 months of old stage it is fully built up. Extra litter materials can be added to maintain sufficient 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 years 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.

Basic Rules for deep litter system:

Do not have too many birds in the pen one bird for every 3 to 4 and preferably 5 square feet of floor space. Provide sufficient ventilation to enable the litter to keep in correct condition. Keep the litter dry. This is probably the master work in a deep litter system. If the litter gets soaked by leaking from roofs or from water vessels, it upsets the whole process and would have to start over again. All probable precautions should be taken to maintain the litters completely dry. Stir the litter regularly. Turning the litter (just like digging in a garden) at least once weekly is very important in maintaining a correct build-up of deep litter.

Advantages: 1. It is an economical 2. Hygienic, comfortable and safe to birds 3. Built up litter supplies vitamin B12 and Riboflavin to the birds 4. Controls diseases and vices 5. It increases the efficiency of production 6. Materials such as paddy husks saw dust, dried leaf, chopped straw and groundnut kernels depending upon the availability can be used as litter materials. Points to be considered while adopting deep litter system 1. The deep litter system should always kept dry. 2. Only right numbers of birds should be housed 3. The house should be well ventilated 4. The litter should be stirred at least once in a week-wet litter if any should be replaced immediately with new dry litter and birds must be fed a balanced ratio. 5. The time starting deep litter system should be in the dry period of the year as it allows sufficient time (At least two months) for bacterial action. 6. Placing of water should be given due attention to keep litter dry. (Source: Dr.Paul Pricely Rajkumar, AC&RI, Madurai )