Modern Poultry Farm Design and Pen Layout
Poultry farming is a branch of the agro-allied industry that has witnessed an increased interest among farmers, coupled with a lot of innovations that have accompanied this business.
To get the best results, poultry farms need certain building specifications and structuring that will ensure that the birds are provided with the right conditions for maximum productivity.
Some of these specifications are aimed at providing adequate ventilation which is crucial for better growth and productivity. This article focuses on the poultry pen house layout and designs, providing critical insights into what is necessary for setting up a poultry house.
To achieve the best results, these proven methods must be adopted by farmers.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF POULTRY HOUSE DESIGNS
Pen House Layout/Orientation
Because of how sensitive birds can be to their surrounding environments, the right specifications/layout need to be put in place to achieve the best results. Their housing should be constructed in a way that the birds are not directly exposed to sunlight. The movement of the sun is crucial in choosing how to construct the poultry house.
Size Matters
The size of the poultry house is an important aspect of its layout and design. First, the farmer needs to take into account the number of birds he/she intends to rear. Typically, 1 square feet of floor space is required to raise a broiler. A broiler requires twice the space the broiler needs for optimal development.
The Entrance
Entrance into the poultry farm should be such that the door is opened outward. This is especially true for the deep litter system of poultry farming. This is a measure to limit or avoid accidents. Birds might be mistakenly crushed when the door is opened inward. Also to be located at the entrance to the poultry house is a foot-bath.
The foot bath should contain a good disinfectant. This is a measure to significantly reduce the likelihood of transmitting infections into the poultry house. These infections can be fatal to the birds leading to a high mortality rate.
Lighting System
A good lighting system should be provided in the poultry house for best results. Lights should hang from a reasonable distance of 8 feet from the floor of the poultry house and must be at least 10 feet apart. A good lighting system enhances the feeding behavior of the birds.
The Length of the Poultry Farm
The length of the poultry farm should not matter much. Here, depending on the size of the land, the length can follow whatever available dimension.
The Foundation
The foundation of the poultry farm is critical to getting the right conditions for the birds. This foundation should be built in such a way that it prevents the seepage of water into the poultry farm. A strong foundation is a key to meeting the optimal layout and design conditions as every other thing structurally necessary to achieve the best design depend upon it.
Commercial poultry farming usually adopts the use of the cage system which has proven quite effective as it increases productivity. There are several types of poultry bird cages. These include the single, the multiple and the colony bird cages.
- The Litter System
However, apart from the cage system, there is also the litter system used in commercial poultry farms. Here, litter consisting of sawdust or wood flakes is used among others. The litter system of poultry farming is less expensive compared to the cage system of poultry farming. Here, the droppings of birds accumulate over time, while continually stirring it to ensure that it mixes properly.
Although efficient in the reduction of the maintenance cost, the deep litter system has its downside as the attendant dust is in most cases responsible for respiratory diseases in poultry birds. In the event that there is no ventilation, the resulting effects are much more pronounced on the health of the birds. The litter system requires that adequate cross ventilation is made available. Other types of designs include;
The Slotted Floor
This creates a slotted platform that is suspended from the main floor. This is mostly done through the use of rods or similar materials. Poultry droppings here pass through the openings to the floor. There is reduced contact with manure/droppings. This, however, is more expensive compared to the solid floor system where birds have direct contact with the floor.
The cage system of poultry farming is very popular among commercial poultry farmer due to its efficiency in the management of birds. There are several cage types. These cages enable the farmer easily manage the birds through an easy system of egg collection and also that of poultry droppings. This system of poultry farming takes up less space while providing the best result.
The cage system significantly reduces the wastage of feeds and also allows for better monitoring of birds. Cleaner eggs are produced, including a reduced damage to eggs through pecking.
Although quite efficient, the cage system comes with its own disadvantages; the high initial investment cost is usually high.
The information supplied is necessary to achieve the best results in building a structurally sound poultry farm. This, if followed will contribute to achieving a well-balanced poultry farm.
Different Poultry Pen House Designs and Layout
Are you looking for different types and plans of a poultry house? I will later add some pictures of battery cages and poultry pen house designs to assist you in constructing your own poultry farm. Always look out for suppliers of quality poultry equipment, battery cages, and building materials.
Here are some standard poultry house design ideas for pullets, layers, broiler, cockerels and breeder chickens etc:
SIMPLE POULTRY HOUSE PLANS – POULTRY PEN CONSTRUCTION
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Please share these ideas on poultry housing design, thanks.
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