1. POULTRY HOUSING
Poultry housing systems
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. Free – range or extensive system
2. Semi - intensive system
3. Folding unit system
4. Intensive system
A. Battery system
B. Deep litter system
Free-range system:
It is the oldest one and has been used for centuries by general farmers, where there is
no shortage of land. This system allows great but not unlimited, space to the birds on
land where they can find an appreciable amount of food in the form of herbage, seeds
and insects. Birds are protected from predatory animals and infectious diseases
including parasitic infestation. At present due to advantages of intensive methods the
system is almost obsolete.
Semi-intensive system:
Where the amount of free space available is limited this system is adopted, but it is
necessary to allow the birds 20-30 square yards per bird of outside run. Wherever
possible this space should be divided giving a run on either side of the house of 10-15
square yards per bird, thus enabling the birds to move onto fresh ground.

2. Folding-unit system:
This system of housing is an innovation of recent years. In portable folding units birds
being confined to one small run, the position is changed each day, giving them fresh
ground and the birds find a considerable proportion of food from the herbage are
healthier and harder. For the farmer the beneficial effects of scratching and manuring on
the land is another side effect.
The most convenient folding unit to handle is that which is made for 25 hens. A floor
space of 1 square foot should be allowed for each bird in the house, and 3 square feet
in the run, so that a total floor space to the whole unit is 4 square feet per bird, as with
the intensive system.
A suitable measurement for a folding house to take 25 birds is 5 feet wide and 20 feet
long, the house being 5’ x 5’, one-third of the run. The part nearest the house is covered
in and the remaining 10’ open with wire netting sides and top.
Disadvantages
 The food and water must be carried out to the birds and eggs brought back.
 There is some extra labour involved in the regular moving of the fold units.
Intensive System:
This system is usually adopted where land is limited and expensive. In this system the
birds are confined to the house entirely, with no access to land outside. This has only
been made possible by admitting the direct rays of the sun on to the floor of the house
so that part of the windows are removable, or either fold or slide down to permit the
ultraviolet rays to reach the birds. Under the intensive system, Battery (cage system)
and Deep litter methods are most common.
A. Battery system.
This is the most intensive type of poultry production and is useful to those with only a
small quantity of floor space at their disposal. In the battery system each hen is confined
to a cage just large enough to permit very limited movement and allow her to stand and
sit comfortably. The usual floor space is 14 x 16 inches and the height, 17 inches. The
floor is of standard strong galvanised wire set at a slope from back to the front, so that
the eggs as they are laid, roll out of the cage to a receiving gutter. Underneath is a tray
for droppings. Both food and water receptacles are outside the cage.
Many small cages can be assembled together, if necessary it may be multistoried. The
whole structure should be of metal so that no parasites will be harbored and thorough
disinfection can be carried out as often as required. Provided the batteries of cages are

3. set up in a place which is well ventilated, and lighted, is not too hot and is vermin proof
and that the food meets all nutritional needs, this system has proved to be
Advantages:
 Remarkably successful in the tropical countries.
 It requires a minimum expenditure of energy from the bird as they spend all time
in the shade.
 It lessens the load of excess body heat.
 The performance of each bird can be noted and culling easily carried out.
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 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.

4.  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 ½ 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.
Chicken farming has become a profitable business lately and its good to try it out. One factor to
consider before any other is poultry housing. Every poultry production system must provide the
most important requirements. Good examples include the following:
Safety from weather: Birds must be shielded from the cold, rain, sun and wind.
Newly hatched chicks need a source of warmth as a basic requirement to shield
them against harsh weather conditions.
Safety from predators: The chickens have many predators including snakes,
rodents, foxes, dogs and other animals. The best way to solve this problem is to
confine chickens in modern structures. These are large installations with
concrete floors, electric fences, strong walls and other features. This discourages
the predators from digging under floors and walls. Wire mesh doors are also very
necessary not to forget meshed windows. Make sure that the available domestic
birds are supplied with food and water. Ensure proper hygiene of the poultry
house as well.
Adequate ventilation: When planning a poultry housing exercise, keep
ventilation requirement in mind. A good flow and circulation of air is an essential
element in any chicken house. To achieve this goal, it’s imperative to consider

5. the poultry production capacity. One can do the large-scale poultry farming or
small-scale poultry farming. The necessary structures in both cases are different
in sizes and designs. Numerous birds require a big housing unit with adequate
ventilation features. This prevents poisonous gases such as ammonia, carbon
monoxide and carbon dioxide from harming the birds. Fewer birds require small
poultry houses with windows and vents on one side of the house. This is to
provide abundant exposure to air. The farmers who live in warmer climates
should build structures with open sides.
Heat control: It is good to build poultry houses in such a way that heat can be
controlled. Too much heat could even kill the birds not to mention it as a
constraint to fruitful poultry farming. On the other hand, temperatures below
freezing point should be prevented. Surprisingly freezing temperatures are not
very risky for chickens. If temperatures go up to forty degrees, inside the poultry
house, the birds cannot survive. At this heat range or over, the birds’ stress
levels go up quickly. At 46 degrees Celsius the birds could die. Potential farmers
of chicken or any other domesticated birds must read books. Books contain facts
about building materials and techniques to lower or raise temperatures. The
chicken house construction procedure should be based on the type of local
climate to control heat.
Humidity levels: As the farmer constructs the poultry houses, he or she must
consider the humidity factor. The birds do not have sweat glands like humans
hence their cooling system is via the beaks. When the humidity levels rise, this
natural cooling mechanism fails.
Space needs in chicken houses: Creating space happens to be the most
important poultry housing principles. Space determines the quantity of birds you
could keep. It also determines the kinds of poultry you could keep. Birds require
space so that they can move freely and work out. Space is essential for creating
chicken nests and perches too. When thinking of space creation, considering the
type of bird species, breeds and production system used is vital. Always make
sure that the chickens or any other domesticated birds are not congested in the
house units.
Feeding Chickens
There are many considerations for poultry farming including feeding chickens.
Potential entrepreneurs planning to venture in chicken farming must know about
feeding. Proper chicken production systems consist of practical feeding plans.
One of the issues to address in the plan is how much feed the birds are likely to
consume at a given duration of time. There are many factors influencing how the
chickens consume the feed at any give time. These factors are:
o Breed type: The Cornish-cross breed (meat providing chicken) and the
layers (egg providing chicken) are normally not fed similarly. The former
chicken breed is bred to develop quickly and it is harvested within two
months of age. During the first six weeks of life, a meat-giving chicken
requires eight pounds of starter feed. The egg-giving chicken breed

6. matures in six months. Two pounds of starter feed is enough for every
chick in its six weeks of life.
o The work out rate: Young chickens are often active because they are
experiencing the growth phase. Therefore, it goes without saying that their
rate of feed consumption would be high. Even adult chickens’ feed
consumption rate is likely to be high.
o Climate variations: The intervals between feeding chickens are likely to be
influenced by climate changes. Climate, in this case refers to wind,
temperature, humidity and rainfall variations.
o Nutritional density: It is good to assess the nutritional value of the feed
before buying it. The natural supplements are also very useful. If the
chicken feed is always nutritious, the birds are much more likely to stay
healthy.
The practice of chicken feeding should be based on a plan. It is very important to
plan so as to track down the expenditures on chicken feed. Here the elements to
feature in the plan or in the records to know how much feed the birds consume:
o Quantity of chicken feed bought at a given time period
o The various types of chicken feed bought at a specific time
o Price tag for every type of chicken feed
o Record the amount of feed bought or consumed in terms of weight
o Group chickens by their ages, breeds and quantities.
The types of accounts chicken farmers keep are likely to differ. Some farmers
rear chicken commercially and others do small-scale farming. It is very
imperative to know how to manage the feed. A farmer could do this by
determining the correct feed ratio to put in the feeders every time. Maintaining
fresh feed in the feeders all the times is a good way to keep the birds healthy.
One can do this by avoiding feed wastage.
Feeding chicken daily is not such a difficult task. Fill the hanging feeders
approximately three quarters full, and the trough feeders two thirds full. It is okay
to keep on adding the feed as the birds consume it than filling all feeders at once.
A farmer is much more likely to estimate the amount of feed consumed
throughout the day and avoid wasting it. If the left over feed is already
contaminated, throw it away. Then, clean all the feeders before refilling them.
Mixing fresh and contaminated feed may cause a disease outbreak. One
indicator of sick birds is a reduction in the normal consumption rate for usual feed
ratios. The birds may also feed less for other reasons known only to a poultry
expert.
feeding chickens feeding chickens feeding chickens feeding chickens

7. TABLE 1 - FLOOR, FEED AND WATER SPACE REQUIREMENTS - BOILER
HOUSING SPACE (per 100 birds)
TYPE OF BIRD FLOOR SPACE FEEDING
SPACE WATERING
Broilers
2 weeks (0.3 kg) 0.04 m² (.43 ft²) 2.5 cm (1 ") 75 cm
(30")
6 weeks (1.85 kg) 0.07 m² (.75 ft²) 7.5 cm (3") 50 cm
(trough) (60")
Roasters
8 weeks (3.5 kg) 0.09 m² (1.0 ft²) 7.5 cm (3") 150 cm
(trough) (60")
100 cm
(circular) (40")
Minimum Space Requirements for different poultry
Type of Bird Sq ft/bird inside Sq ft/bird outside runs
Bantam Chickens
1
4
Laying Hens
1.5
8
Large Chickens
2
10
Quail
1
4
Pheasant
5
25
Ducks
3
15
Geese
6
18
Minimum Requirement of Chickens for floor and perch space
Chicken types Floor Space
(birds/m²)
Floor Space
(ft²/ bird)
Perch Space
(per bird)
Layer
Dual Purpose
Meat
3
4
4-5
3.6
2.7
2.1-2.7
25 cm (10 in)
20 cm (8 in)
15-20 cm (6-8 in)

8. - See more at: http://mtnpoultry.blogspot.in/2012/11/poultry-housing.html#sthash.h3QmfHGK.dpuf
Poultry Housing Systems
BY FARHAN SHEIKH · OCTOBER 15, 2012 · 2 COMMENTS
POULTRY HOUSING · TAGGED: PICTURES
The system of poultry housing to be adopted depends on category tage), type of birds,climatic conditions, capacity to invest and
strength of birds. Sometimes combination of two or more systems is also followed depending on need and convenience of
operations for fanning. Broadly, the classification or types of poultry housing systems is given in Flow chart
FREE RANGE
Rearing of poultry by letting them loose on ground (field) called as range in limited area(fenced) is known as free range system. The
system is adopted only when adequate land isavailable to ensure desired stocking density by avoiding crowding. It A range
should provide shelter, greens. feed, water shade, room , for exercise and saftey. But foraging is the major source of feeding for
birds. Shelter is usually provided by temporary roofing supported by ordinary poles. The fields are generally used on rotational basis
after harvesting of crops by moving of birds from field to fielJ depending on cropping programme. All types and categories of birds
can be reared in this system. The average stocking density of adult birds in this system is 250 birds per hectare. The scientific

9. management practices cannot be followed because there is no control over the birds. The system is not practiced in India
forcommercial rearing but used for backward poultry keeping in villages for country hens.
SEMI-INTENSIVE
As the name indicates birds are half-way reared in houses and half-way on ground or range, i.e. birds are confined to houses in
night or as per need they are also given access to runs. The houses are with solid floors while runs are fields only. The success of
rearing depends on maintenance of condition of runs to reduce the contamination. Runs can also be used on turn basis. The more
danger of infection is from the ground immediately surrounding houses called “foul-patch” due to congregation of birds there for
more time in day. Therefore, floor of this ground may be made up of pressed gravel or murrom having slope towards runs, away
from house. The stocking density rate on an average for adults is 750 birds per hectare.Here also there is only slight control over
birds and scientific management practices cannot be applied. To some extent the system is adopted for duck rearing. The feeding
and watering facilities are provided in houses.
INTENSIVE SYSTEM
Birds are totally confined to houses either on ground/floor or on wire-netting floor in cages. While invention of this system, initially it
was thought that birds developed leg weakness due to this rearing but later on it was detected that leg problems were due
to deficiency of vitamin D, B,, etc. or mineral deficiency like manganese and it was not the fault of system. It is the most efficient,
convenient an
Cage Rearing
This system involves rearing of poultry on raised wire netting floor in smaller compartments of wire netting called cages, either fitted
on stands on floor of house or hanged to the roof. If birds become overweight they may develop cage fatigue but very rarely. The
system has been proved very efficient for laying operations, right from day-old stage till disposal. Feeders and waterers
are attached to cages from outside except nipple waterers, for which pipeline is installed through or above cages. Auto-operated
feeding trollies and egg collection belts can also be used in this rearing system. The droppings are either collected in trays
underneath cages or on belts for it or on the floor or deep pit under cages, depending on type of cages. Primarily cages can be
divided into two types depending on their design and installation pattern in the house, viz reverse (Calif-ornian) and battery cages.
Reverse Cages (Stair-step)

10. They are also known as stair-stepped cages and were initially named after the place California, where invented for first time. The
commpartments are arranged step-wise in two or three tiers on stands in two or three rows, were droppings may fall on ground or
deep pit under cages . The droppings be removed once 6 months or after 12 months along with disposal of layer batch pending on
depth of pit formed by raised platform . Double strength of birds can be accommo-dated the same space in this type of cages as
compared to deep-litter.
battery Cages
they are also called as vertical cages. The compartments of cages e arranged one above the other on stands with a tray or shit belts
un der the compartments for collection of droppings in two or three rows. The droppings are preferably removed every day or at
least alternate day in this system. The feeders and waterers arrange-nt is same as that of reverse cages. These cages house still
more number of birds than deep-litter or reverse cages. Roughly tripplc strength of birds can be housed as compared to deep-litter
system. The arrangement of compartments is elaborated in the figure
Flat Deck Cages
This is the single tier cage system popularly used for rearing chicks upto 8 weeks, for easy handling of them in morden methods of
poultry production and management. Each cage is usually 1 m (100 cm) square block fitted on stand. Length-wise each block is
divided into two compartments by a partition in middle at 50 cm of width housing, 20 chicks in each compartment or 40 chicks in a
block. They are provided with trough waterers initially attached on width sides and from around 4th week waterers on both the sides
length-wise are used. Nipple, arid pipeline, length-wise can also be installed through cages. Feeders to cages are attachedfrom
outside on both the sides length-wise . Because the quantity of droppings is less due to smaller size of birds, droppings can easily
be stocked for 2 months and removed along with shifting of chicks to grower houses at 8 weeks of age. Generally four rows of
cages are installed in 8.5 m wide house with 5 service passages. The length of house can be taken as per need..
Advantages of Cage Rearing
1. Space and land required is lowest than any other type of rearing. About 20,000 to 25,000 birds can be reared per hectare. ‘
Therefore, the cost of overall housing is reduced to a great extent.
. Birds are under complete control. Even birds can be housed individually which is sometimes followed for breeders.
3. Accurate records of individual bird can be maintained which is helpful in efficient breeding programme.
4. Scientific management practices in respect of feeding, watering. breeding, health care, etc. can be adopted easily.
5. Egg eating is largely prevented and most clean egg productior. is obtained.
6. The birds do not congregate at the time of feeding and fee: consumption is still reduced due to further restricted movements as
compared to deep-litter.
7. The major litter horned diseases like coccidiosis and worms are eliminated or incidence is reduced to large extent.
8. The cost of litter and litter management problems are totally eliminated.
9. Day to day operations like watering, feeding, egg collection, medication, vaccination, culling, debeaking, etc. are easy and create
minimum stress of birds.
10. The breakage of eggs is reduced to minimum possible level of 0.5 to 1 per cent which increases profit of margin.

11. Floor Space Requirements on Deep-litter and Cages
Floor requirements vary according to species, type, age, size of birds and system of housing. The floor space requirements for
chicken as per category are given in the Table