3. Poultry Physiology
Body
temperature
105°F -
107°F
Poultry house
design should be
directly related to
environmental
conditions
Strong effect of
environmental
factors
Tropical
environmental
effect more
high yielding
birds
High yielding
exotic breeds
have
temperate
origin
Less
tolerant of
heat than
cold
Comfort
zone:
18-22 °C
4. Comfort and Protection
Scientific management in a controlled manner
Easy, convenient and economic operations
Reduces the total cost of production
Maximizes flock performance
Ensuring better health and welfare
Proper micro-climatic conditions
Increased stocking density
Optimum and uniform growth rate
Importance
of Housing
5. Type of poultry housing Systems
Free Range
/Extensive
Semi-Intensive Intensive
Deep Litter Cage
Stair-step/
California
Battery/
Vertical
Individual
Slat cum litter Slatted floor
6. Free Range System
Oldest system and adopted only when adequate land is available
Rearing of poultry by letting them loose on ground (Field) called as range
A range should provide shelter, greens, feed, water, shade etc
Foraging is major source of feeding for birds
Shelter is usually provided by temporary roofing supported by ordinary poles
Stocking density: 300-400 birds per hectare
At present, almost outdated
7. Semi-intensive System
Commonly used by small scale producers
Birds are half way reared in houses and
half way on ground or range
Birds are confined to houses in night or as
per the need, they are also given access to
runs
Houses may be simple house, thatched
roof, littered earth floor or slatted
Provides protection from inclement
weather predators and shade
Stocking density: 4-5 birds m.sq. in houses
8. Fold Unit System
House and run combined, part of which is
covered with chicken wire and the
remainder with solid walls
A unit 6 metres by 1.5 metres for 6-18 birds
Floor space 2 square metres per bird
Moved each day over an area of grassland
Similar to the deep-litter system, but
requires more space, a considerable amount
of litter for the yard, and the fresh green
food for the birds
More expensive and less durable
9. Deep Litter System
Poultry birds are kept in large pens on floor, mainly for broilers
Floor is covered with litters , such as straw, saw dust or leaves up to depth
of 2-3 inches
Bird density: 5-7 birds per square meter
Easy assess for feed, water, egg collection, provide good protection
Disadvantage: Require high quality liter and litter born diseases
10. Small houses with a slatted or wire mesh
floor
Slats- wooden pieces of 2.5-5 cm wide
placed 2.5 cm apart, running through the
length of house
Slats placed 3 ft above the ground floor to
allow accumulation of dropping
Bird density can be 6–8 per square metre
Feeding, watering & egg collection
handled from outside the house
Cooler houses but expensive & suitable
for adult bird only
Slatted or wire-floor system
11. Combination of slatted floor and deep litter
60% slat area and 40% litter area
Slats on either side of house against
each side wall leaving central portion for
litter floor
The area is raised above the concrete
floor by 0.5 metres or more to
accumulate manure below the slatted
area
Waterers and feeders are placed on the
slatted area
Bird density upto 5-7 per sqaure meter
Expensive & complicated management
slat area
litter area
12. Aviaries
Multi-tiered buildings for cage-free housing
Several levels of flooring
Use of vertical space (perches and platforms) – allow birds to
jump to different levels
High density of birds upto- 25 birds per sqaure meter
13. Cage System
Rearing of poultry on raised wire netting floor in smaller compartments, called cages
Initially introduce for individual egg & pedigree recording & culling of poor layers
At present, 75% of commercial layers in the world are kept in cages
Suitable for keeping high density of birds, when space is limitation
Scientific managemental practices can be followed
Feeders and waterers are attached to cages from outside, except nipple waterers, for which
pipeline is installed through or above cages
Auto-operated feeding trolleys and egg collection belts can also be used
The droppings are either collected in trays underneath cages, on belts or on floor or deep
pit under the cages
Recommended Floor space Chick (0 to 8 weeks) = 0.3 Sq.ft
Grower (9 to 16 weeks) = 0.5 Sq.ft
Layer (Above 17 weeks) = 0.6 Sq.ft
15. Based on the bird density
Single or individual bird cage
(Only one bird in a cage)
Multiple bird cage
(From 2 to 10 birds)
Colony cages
(More than 11 birds per cage)
Based on the number of rows
Single-deck
Double-deck
Triple-deck
Four-deck
Based on arrangement of cages
Battery cages (Vertical cages)
Stair-step cages
a) M-type cages
b) L-type cages
Based on the type of bird reared
Brooder / chick cages
Grower cages
Layer cages
Breeder cages
Types of cages
17. This type of houses provides sufficient
ventilation & waste management in tropical
countries
The height of the shed is raised by 7-8 feet from
ground level using concrete pillars
The distance between two pillars is 10 feet
Two feet wide concrete platforms are made
over the pillars
For 3 ‘M’ type cages are arranged 4 platforms
are needed
The inter-platform distance is 5-8 feet
depending upon the type of the cages used
The total height of the house is 20-25 feet and
the width is 30-33 feet
California Housing
(High Rise/ Elevated cage house)
18. 7-8 ft
8 to 9 ft
10- 15 ft
interval
2 ft
Depends on cage
design
(5 to 8 ft
19. In recent years, most poultry operation are intensive type houses with
Environment Controlled house, in which inside conditions are maintained as near
as to the bird’s optimum requirements
Temperature: 24oC
Relative Humidity- 50 to 60%
A closed building with no windows, longitudinal preferably east to west, with
big exhaust fans on west side while evaporative cooling pads on east side along
with automatic feeding and drinking systems inside
Fully system controlled with no manual controls, feeding system, watering
system, manure collection system, egg collection system are all mechanized and
automatic
ECH helps to achieve better FCR, improving production, care of birds, control
diseases and meet other safe breeding conditions
One extra batch (or cycle) per year per shed
Modern Housing System
21. Selection of site
Housing Design
Housing Environment
Housing Equipment's
Housing Space
Light
Housing hygiene and sanitation
Biosecurity
Principles of Housing
22. Located away from residential and industrial area
Soil and drainage
Basic amenities like water and electricity
Shade and protection
Relation to other building
Proper ventilation
Availability of farm labourers at relatively cheaper wages
Market
Proper road facilities
1. Selection of site
23. Hot& cold climate Hot climate
S
N
S
W
E
N
W
E
Cold climate
N
WE
S
2. Housing Design
Distance between sheds
Preferably locate chicks, growers & layers in
different localities for better biosecurity
Distance between sheds = 0.4 x H √L
House Orientation (Direction)
20- 50 m
24. Foundation
Solid & Concrete, concrete blocks &
bricks with 1 to 1.5 feet below the
surface and 1 to 1.5 feet above the
ground level
Length
Can be of any extent
Width
Not more than 30 feet
If the width of the shed is more than
30 feet, ridge ventilation at the
middle line of the roof top with
proper overhang is must
Can be of any width in EC houses
upto 40 ft
1.5ft
30 ft
25. Height
Height of the sides from foundation to the
roof line should be 8-10 feet (eaves
height) and at the centre 10 -12 feet
In case of cage houses, the height is
decided by the type of cage arrangements
(3 tier or 4 tier)
Side walls
Protects the bird from adverse climate and
provides sufficient ventilation
Usually half to two-thirds area will be
kept open and fitted with wire mesh in
floor houses
In cage houses, avoid side wall
EC houses should have solid side walls
8-10 ft10 -12 ft
26. Types of Roofs
Draft and moisture proof
Sufficient overhang
Insulation values of R-4 and R-2 for ceiling and
walls, respectively in hot climate
Painted with a reflecting type of paint such as
aluminum paint or polyurethane insulation
under the roof or above the ceiling
Dropped ceilings
• Modern houses are well insulated with blown in
cellulose or glass fiber batt
• Protect the trusses and ceiling insulation by
acting as a vapor barrier
• Reduce the ceiling surface area and reduce heat
gain during hot weather and heat loss during
cold weather
2-3 ft
Dropped ceiling
29. Asphaltic roofing material
Thatched roof
Asbestos sheets
Types of roofing material
Roof white washed Spray polyurethane
insulation
Rigid board
insulation
30. Types of Floors
Concrete with rat proof device and free from dampness
Extended 1.5 feet outside the wall on all sides to prevent rat and snake problems
Consist of well-drained soil or gravel or concrete which is more desirable, it is easy
to clean, durable and more rat proof
A concrete floor should be 80–100 mm thick and be made of a stiff 1:2:4 or 1:3:5
mix, laid on a firm base at least 150 mm above ground level, and given a smooth finish
with a steel trowel
Doors
The door must be open outside mostly in deep-
litter poultry houses
The size of door is preferably 6 x 2.5 feet
At the entry, a foot bath should be constructed to
fill with a disinfectant
32. Macro environment
Not possible
to
manipulate
Local environment around a animal
Temperature
Gases
Humidity
Dust and
Microorganisms
Particulate matter
Microenvironment
Air quality
Relative
humidity
Temperature
3. Housing Environment
33. Control over micro-environment
can be achieved by
By completely
eliminating
macro
environment
contact with
the house
By completely
enclosed from
outside
incliment
weather
conditions
Hence
environment
inside house is
in our control,
Here the
concept of EC
has arisen
34. Ventilation/ Air Movement
Moving FRESH AIR INTO a house and
moving STALE AIR OUT of the house
Sending UNWANTED heat, EXCESS
moisture, ammonia OUT of the house
Limiting the buildup of HARMFUL
GASES
Providing OXYGEN for respiration
35. Natural outside air can easily flow into
and out of the house
Ventilated shelter must be expose to
the wind
Windbreaks reduce natural air
movement, keep them 100 ft away
Increased air-exchange rates by
installing fans
Proper building design & construction
major factors which affect ventilation
Natural Ventilation
36. Mechanical/ Forced Ventilation systems
All air movement is produced by fans
and controlled by automatic
environmental control mechanisms in
the building
Positive pressure systems use fans to
blow fresh air into the building, creating
a slightly higher pressure inside the
house
Pressure difference moves the stale air to
escape through strategically placed
exhaust vents or outlets
37. Negative-pressure ventilation: Exhaust fans expel air from the building &
creates a partial vacuum inside that pulls air into the house evenly through all
inlets, creating more uniform conditions in the house
Inlets are distributed around the periphery of the building
Having a tightly sealed house is critical for successful control of in-house
conditions in negative-pressure ventilation
38. Tunnel ventilation
Most effective in tropical climate due to higher air exchange rate
& faster air movement @ 2.5-3 m/sec
Fresh air enters the house at one end and pulled through the house
in longitudinal direction by means of high-performance fans
39. Cross ventilation (fans on one side of the
house and inlets on the other side –works
best in houses of less than 10 m wide)
Sidewall ventilation: fans and inlets on
same sidewalls
Attic inlet ventilation: fans are distributed
at the side-walls, inlets are in the roof
40. Fans and openings:
Control the amount of air exchange
Effect air distribution and mixing
Heaters: provide supplemental heat
during cold weather and brooding
Controls: to adjust ventilating rates
(fan controls), supplemental heating
rates, and the air velocity rates (fan
controls), supplemental heating rates,
and the air velocity through openings
as weather, bird age and size change
Components of Mechanical Ventilation systems
41. Placed on the windward direction of the
houses
Install slow speed, industrial fans 1m above
the ground
Use 1x 620 mm rpm fan/1,000 layers
In EC houses: Important to determine how
much air flow through the building which
determine the no: of fans required
Air flow rate = cross sectional area of the
house x required speed desired
A minimum of 1 m2 inlet area per 14 m3/h
exhaust fan capacity is recommended
Fans
42. Openings
• Air inlets: to provide fresh air throughout the building, control direction of
airflow, and maintain sufficient inlet air velocity
• Inlets for negative-pressure ventilation systems: continuous slots and discrete
box or area inlets
• Continuous slot inlets have a rigid movable baffle for controlling the size of the
opening, Bottom-hinged baffles are preferred.
• Continuous inlets may be positioned along both eaves
• Tunnel ventilation requires a separate set of inlets
• Unplanned inlets includes large openings such as doors, windows, and fans
without shutters, which are not originally designed to be part of the ventilation
system
43.
44.
45. Heaters
Supplemental heat is needed in natural & powered ventilated houses to
maintain desired indoor temperatures during cold weather & brooding
Different types of heaters are used for supplemental heating in poultry houses
including radiant, space and make-up air heaters
46. To maintain the indoor temperature
and provide air exchange as weather
changes hourly and seasonally
Regulate the supplemental heating
rate
Sold state controllers and computer
systems capable of controlling the
inlet and outlet opening and
supplemental heaters
Automatic controls
47. A well-insulated building is needed for EC houses
It prevent condensation on the inside surfaces, reduce heat loss in
cold weather, and reduce solar heat gain in warm weather
Insulation
49. Foggers
FOGGER SYSTEM
Low pressure fogging
• Inject fine water particles
• Low cost fogging system
• High quality and durable PVC Pipes are
used
High pressure fogging
• Micro mist fog size (10-15µ)
• Fogger in true sense discharges fog not
water
• Operated intermittently or designed to avoid
excessive water
• High pressure and durable Stainless Steel
Pipes are used
Fogger Sprinkler
50. Evaporative cooling pads
Operate on the same cooling principle as foggers
Cooled air entered the house, when it passes through the wet pads above which water runs
through perforated pipes
This method avoids the problem of wet litter
Concrete coated bagasse pad, Aspen fiber, rubberised hogshair pad and corrugated
cellulose or fluted cardboard pads materials widely used as cooling pads
51. Feeding
Automatic feeders have one loop of feeder chain and trough capable of feeding a given
number of birds
A feeding control system to turn the feeders on and off
Feed monitoring systems are available to measure the amount of feed consumed by bird
It is important that, same amount of feed to be available at all locations along the feeder
52. The feed hopper in the house holds the feed before it goes out through the auger & into the feed
pans
Feed goes through the auger lines & drops into
each feed pan for the chickens to eat
53. Round bottom feeders Square bottom feeders Automatic feeder
Linear Trough feedersTube Feeder Hanging type Feeder
58. A stand-by generator for emergency power supply to
all houses in case of power failure
59. Lighting
• EC houses should be light proof, use of light trap at fan openings
• A monitoring and control system for scheduling of lights
• A system than can pre-program lighting schedules over the life of the flock
is very useful for management
• It is also important to provide the desired intensity of light
• Lighting is provided by incandescent lights with dimmer switches
Incandescent lights Fluorescent tube light Compact Fluorescent light
61. CONCLUSION
Automation is the need of hour to reduce labor cost and increase
poultry production
California houses with automation is better option in tropical
climate
Thought should be given to Environmental Control houses while
constructing houses in hot climate, if capital is available
Civil engineers or architectures should be involved while
planning and designing poultry houses
62. Bibliography
Appleby, M.C, Hughes, B.O, and Elson (1992) A. Poultry Production System.
CAB International, Wallingford.
Bhanja S. K. Notes on poultry housing and management. Technical Bulletin,
Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar.
Daghir, N. J. (2008). Poultry Production in Hot Climates. CAB International,
Nosworthy Way, Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Elson (1986). Poultry managemnt systems; looking to the future. WPSA 7th
European Poultry Confrence Paris, 24-28 Aug, 1986 . (1) 1-11
FAO (2011). Rural structures in the tropics: Design and development.
Lohmann Tierzucht. ManagementGuide (Hot Climate)
North, Mack O. Commercial chicken production manual.
News letters on Poultry Housing Tips. University of Georgia's College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension service