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Poultry housing system

Poultry housing systems generally fall into four categories: (1) free-range/extensive systems which provide the most space for birds but are less common now, (2) semi-intensive systems which provide some outdoor space, (3) folding unit systems which move portable housing daily for fresh ground, and (4) intensive systems where birds are confined indoors. The most common intensive systems are battery cages which confine each bird in a small cage, or deep litter systems which house many birds together indoors on a thick bed of litter.

POULTRY HOUSING SYSTEM
POULTRY HOUSING SYSTEM Generally, four systems of poultry housing are 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. 1. Free-rangesystem 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. 2. 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. 3. 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 effect of scratching and manureng 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 for 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‘ x5‘, 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 becarriedbackand forth out to the birdsand eggs.
. 4. 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 tor each the birds. Under the intensive system, Battery (cage system) and Deep litter methods are most common. a. b. a. Batterysystem. 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 galvanized 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 multi storied. The whole structure should be of metal so that no parasites will be harbored and thorough disinfection can be carried out as oftenas required. Provided the batteries of cages are setup ina place whichis 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 advantageous. Advantages: Remarkably successful inthe tropical countries. It requires aminimum expenditure of energy from the birdsasthey spend all time in the shade. The performance of eachbirdcan benoted and culling easily carriedout. b. Deeplitter 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 netting or expanded metal. -up deep litter also supplies some of the food requirements of the birds. They obtain "Animal Protein Factor" from deep litter. deep litter than with birds (or chicken) in bare yards. Well managed deep litter kept in dry conditionwith no wet spots around waterer has asterilizing 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 asneeded. 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. 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 Donot have toomany birdsinthe pen – one bird for every 3 ½to 4 and preferably 5square feet of floor space. getssoakedbyleaking from roofs or from water vessels, it upsets the whole process and would have to start over again. All probableprecautions should betaken to maintain the litters completely dry. weekly is very important in maintaining a correct build-up of deep litter.
TYPES OF POULTRY HOUSING 1.FREE-RANGE/EXTENSIVE SYSTEM 2.SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM 2.FOLDING UNIT SYSTEM 3.INTENSIVE SYSTEM
1. FREE- RANGE/EXTENSIVE SYSTEM Oldest, Gen’l. Farmers Herbs, Seeds, Insects F E E D S
2. SEMI-INTENSIVE SYS LIMITED SPACE 20-30yds2 /bird-outside run 10-15yds2 /bird-run either side - Enabling the bird to move onto fresh ground
3. FOLDING-UNIT SYSTEM INNOVATION:Portable, 1 small run, position changed each day-giving fresh ground & proportion of food(herbage)
MOST CONVENIENT (for 25 Hens) EACH BIRD: 4ft2 /bird (1ft2 -Floor, 3ft2- runway) 25 BIRDS: 5ft x 20ft HOUSE: 5’ x 5’
D. INTENSIVE SYSTEM Adopted where land is limited and expensive. Birds confined to the house entirely, no access to land outside.
Windows are removable-Sunrays reach the bird. MOST COMMON a. Battery (CAGE SYSTEM) b. Deep Litter Method
a. BATTERY SYSTEM Most Intensive Type Poultry prodn. Useful:Small Qty. of Floor Space, Hen Confined
Very Limited Movement Floorspace: 14”x16”, Underneath “DROPPINGS” Food & Water: Outside the Cage
Advantages: Successful in the tropical countries. Requires a minimum expenditure of energy from the birds as they spend all time in the shade.
b. DEEP LITTER SYSTEM Birds kept: In largepens up to 250 birds each, on floor Resembles: to drycompost. Accumulation:Manure Depth: 8 to 12 inches.
Advantages Birds, eggs: safely enclosed in pen Strong wirenetting/metal (FOOD) Theyobtain "Animal Protein Factor" from deep litter