Modern Poultry Housing

Housing in Poultry Industry

Has all the facilities required by the
poultry.
Have the facilities of well ventilation,
capturing moisture, sufficient air and
light movement, lighting, litter
management etc.

Poultry Housing Systems

Free-range or extensive system

Semi-intensive system
Folding unit system
Intensive system
1 Super intensive system
2 Extra super intensive system

Early Poultry Production

Prior to the 2nd world war most

chickens were produced in open yards
or dirt floor sheds.

Poultry 1940 - 1960

Advances in breeding/genetics and
feeds and nutrition improved feed
conversion and cut production time for
a marketable size bird from 16 to 8
weeks.
Advances in refrigeration expanded
distribution of processed birds and
eggs and enlarged the market.
The dynamic of the poultry market and
the industry had changed.

Modern Poultry Production

Today large scale chicken and turkey
production is done in total
confinement facilities.
Weather
Predators/parasites
Pathogens
Automation
Intensive production schedules
Control of waste runoff

Modern Poultry Production

Environmental conditions are automatically controlled

Primarily in enclosed buildings for protection

Poultry Production
Nowadays poultry operators tend to
specialize in one type of production.
Poultry housing must be geared toward
each individual operation.
Houses for various production
enterprises may differ greatly in size,
appearance, and arrangement of
facilities.
However, they also have some similar
requirements.

Separation by Age Class &

Product
Poultry producers are separating birds by
species age class and product.

Brooding chicks
Breeding hens & roosters
Laying egg production
Broilers meat production

Brooding
Early period of
growth when
supplemental heat
must be provided,
due to the birds
inability to generate
enough body heat.
Start at 30.6 C and
reduced by 3C
each week.

Brooding

Brooding rings are used to keep chicks

and near food, water and heat, critical for
their survival

Breeding

Roosters and hens are most productive at 22.2 C

Breeding
Light effects the sexual maturity of
birds, for example decreasing photo
periods will delay sexual maturity.
Breeding houses are often have
facilities where the entry of light is
tightly controlled so the producer can
control the amount of light received
by the birds through artificial
lighting.

Laying hens

Prefer a temperature of 21-22 C

Sophisticated ventilation is required to
support this battery cage arrangement.
The eggs in the trays below the hens.

Broiler/Grow-out Facilities

Broilers need consistent temperatures

and constant access to food and
water to grow efficiently.

Broiler & Breeding

Environments
Consistent temperatures of 21 - 22
C produce the best performance in
mature birds.
Maintaining temperature consistency
and uniformity throughout the house
is as important as the temperature
itself.

Ventilation

Cold/Rainy Weather
Ventilation
In the cold/rainy weather, minimum
ventilation removes ammonia and
moisture.
However in very cold weather
temperatures can not be maintained
Supplemental heating may be required.
Forced air heating is becoming more
common especially in breeding facilities

Warm Weather Ventilation

In warm weather, ventilation alone will not

reduce the temperature enough.
The wind chill effect of tunnel ventilation and
evaporative cooling pads help to lower the
effective temperature.

Light
Important element for poultry and
they become very sensitive to light
Poultry birds require 8 hours darkness
and 16 hours presence of light
Incandescent or fluorescent bulb for
the purpose of artificial light
Use a wide reflector always to
maximize the light

Feeding

Feed delivery has been largely

automated.

Watering Systems

Watering has also been highly automated

Waste Systems

Clean slotted floor with flush.

Litter, manure are used as fertilizers.

Thank you!