How To Construct Your Poultry Pen

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ine
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Animals Section Poultry
How to construct your poultry

An Agric. Consultant & a
pen Blogger
 September 18, 2022

Benadine Nonye  0 Comments  Poultry
- National Diploma in
Agricultural Technology
The details of how the poultry pen should be constructed cannot

- Bachelor's Degree in
exactly be given in this article. However, the fundamental things that
Agricultural Science
should be put in mind while constructing the housing should be - Master's Degree in Science
spacious enough, have adequate ventilation, have all the things that Education...
will be needed by the birds like good water etc. Join Me On:
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08/10/2022, 17:24 How to construct your poultry pen - Agric4profits.com
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pen should be constructed in East-West direction.
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to build a poultry house is a common question for the producers.

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Basically the poultry housing is the main process of keeping your

birds healthy, fast growing and producing the maximum. Join Us On:
You have to make proper poultry housing plans, before starting
poultry farming business or making a poultry house. Choose a
suitable place for building chicken coop. There are many ways of
making poultry house.
Download
So, you have to chose the method on how you will build a poultry
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house. You have to make a proper and affordable poultry housing App on PlayStore
design first to become successful in chicken farming.
Before making chicken coop, you have to keep in mind about some
factor like the house will be well ventilated, free from predators or
enemies, sufficient health facilities etc. Be sure all the facilities are
fully available in your designed poultry house.
For successful poultry farming the chicken coop should contain

some necessary facilities like it will be well ventilated, sufficient flow
of air and sunlight will be available inside the poultry house. It would
be better, if the house become south faced.
The house must have to be free from harmful animals and birds.
Questions & Answers
Keep the new chickens and the hen for sale separated from each Section
other. The hen for sale should kept in another house. Before making
houses for poultry birds, keep in mind that every chicken needs 40 Pineapple Disease asked by
to 50 squire centimeters place. Samuel Owoeye, 1 month ago.
Rabbit Urine asked by Ashraf, 4

Suppose you have decided to make a poultry house for 1000
months ago.
chickens then the area of the poultry house would be between
What Are The Benefits Of
40000 to 50000 squire centimeters. Keep the food and feeding
Licking Salt. asked by Hendra
equipment in regular distance according to the number of chickens Edward, 4 months ago.
and their daily food demands.
How pets help with mental
health asked by Benadine
Read Also: Poultry Housing Management: Poultry Pen/House
Nonye, 1 year ago.
Construction Guide
Some essential information about chicken housing are described What is the effect of waterleaf
bellow for making a suitable and proper poultry house. in pullet (layers)? asked by
Benadine Nonye, 1 year ago.
The poultry house must have to be well ventilated.
Ensure sufficient entrance of sunlight and fresh air inside the
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The proper distance of one house to another house is about 40
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Build the poultry house in such a place where all the poultry
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The poultry housing area will be free from loud sound/sound Krush Recovery – Broad
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Make the poultry house in quite and calm place. Stack
It would be better if the house located in an open air place. $600.00 $480.00
However, to be successful in poultry farming the producers must

have to be aware in making the poultry house. Be sure that all Sponsored Posts
necessary equipment and facilities are available inside the poultry
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Poultry Pen/House
Construction Guide Sponsored
Need for poultry house FAN MILK

DANONE
To protect birds from adverse climatic conditions COMMISSIONS
To ensure easy and economic operation MODEL DAIRY
To ensure scientific feeding in a controlled manner
FARM IN ODEDA,
To facilitate proper micro-climatic conditions in a near vicinity
of bird
OGUN STATE
 July 20, 2022

Benadine
For effective disease control measures
To ensure proper supervision Nonye  0
Selection of location
Ogun State, Nigeria (June
2022) – Fan Milk, a Danone
Company, makers of well-
Poultry house should be located away from residential and loved frozen dairy and ice
industrial area. cream brands
It should have proper road facilities. 16:15
It should have the basic amenities like water and electricity.
Availability of farm labourers at relatively cheaper wages.
Fan
Poultry house should be located in an elevated area and there
Milk
should not be any water-logging.
augmen
It should have proper ventilation.
ts
efforts
Different types of poultry

to improve dairy farming in
Nigeria, with inaugural
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houses at new dairy training

institute
 June 6, 2022
 0
Brooder / chick house-It is used to brood and rear egg-type
chicks from 0 to 8 weeks of age.
Grower house-It is used to grow egg-type birds from 9 to 18
weeks of age.
Brooders cum grower house-Here, the birds are reared from
0 to 18 weeks of age (entire brooding and growing period of
egg-type chicken).
Layer house-In which birds over 18 weeks of age are reared,
usually up to 72 weeks of age.
Broiler house-In which broilers are reared up to 6 weeks of
age.
Breeder house-In which both male and female breeders are
maintained at appropriate sex ratio.
Environmentally controlled (EC) house-In which, entire
environment is manipulated in such a way that is optimum for
the birds growth.
Optimal environmental
conditions for rearing broilers
Temperature – 22-300C (70-850F)
Relative Humidity – 30-60 %
Ammonia level – Less than 25 ppm
Litter moisture – 15-25%
Air flow – 10-30 metres/minute
House Orientation (Direction)

The poultry house should be located in such a way that long axis is
in east-west direction. This will prevent the direct sunshine over the
birds.
Size 16:15
Each broiler require one square foot of floor space while a layer
requires two square feet of floor space under deep-litter system of
rearing. So the size of the house depends on the number of birds to
be reared.
Length
The length of the house can be of any extent. The number of birds
reared and availability of the land determines the length of poultry
house.
Width
The open sided poultry houses in tropical countries should have a
width not more than 22 to 25 feet in order to allow ample
ventilation and aeration at the mid-portion. Sheds wider than this
will not provide adequate ventilation during the hot weather.
If the width of the shed is more than 25 feet, ridge ventilation at the
middle line of the roof top with proper overhang is a must. Hot air
and obnoxious gases which are lighter than air move upward and
escape through ridge ventilation.
In environmentally controlled poultry houses, the width of the

house may be even 40 feet or more since the ventilation is
controlled with the help of exhaust fans.
Height
The height of the sides from foundation to the roof line should be 6
to 7 feet (eaves height) and at the centre 10 to 12 feet. In case of
cage houses, the height is decided by the type of cage arrangements
(3 tier or 4 tier).
Foundation
Good foundation is essential to prevent seepage of water into the
poultry sheds. The foundation of the house should of concrete with
1 to 1.5 feet below the surface and 1 to 1.5 feet above the ground 16:15
level.
Floor
The floor should be made of concrete with rat proof device and free
from dampness. The floor of the house should be extended 1.5 feet
outside the wall on all sides to prevent rat and snake problems.
Doors
The door must be open outside in case of 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.
Side walls
The side wall should be of 1-1.5 feet height, and generally at the
level of bird’s back height. This side wall protects the bird during
rainy days or chill climate and also provides sufficient ventilation. In
case of cage houses, no side wall is needed.
Roof
The roof of the poultry house may be thatched, tiled, asbestos or
concrete one depending upon the cost involvement. Different types
of roofs are Shed, Gable, half-monitor, full-monitor (Monitor), Flat
concrete, Gambrel, Gothic etc. Gable type is mostly preferred in
tropical countries like India.
Overhang
The overhang of the roof should not be less than 3.5 feet in order to
prevent the entry of rain water into the shed.
Lighting
Light should be provided at 7-8 feet above the ground level and
must be hanged from ceiling. If incandescent bulbs are used, the
interval between two bulbs is 10 feet. In case of fluorescent lights 16:15
(tube lights) the interval is 15 feet.
Read Also: Best Type of Poultry to Raise for Commercial

Production and their Time of Maturity
Systems of Poultry Housing

Poultry can be housed under different systems based on following
factors,
1. Availability of land
2. Cost of land
3. Type of farming activity
4. Climatic condition
5. Labour availability
Broadly, poultry housing systems are classified into three systems:
1. 1. Free range or extensive system

2. Semi-intensive system
3. Intensive system:
1. Deep-litter system
2. Slatted floor system
3. Slat cum litter system
4. Cage system
1) Free range system

This system is adopted only when adequate land is available to
ensure desired stocking density by avoiding overcrowding. We can
rear about 250 adult birds per hectare.
A range provides shelter, greens, feed, water and shade. 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 one field to another depending on
cropping programme. All categories of birds can be reared in this
system. This system is most preferred for organic egg production.
16:15
Advantages
Less capital investment
Cost of housing is least.
Feed requirements are less since birds can consume fairly good
amount of feed from grass land.
Fertility of soil can be maintained.
Disadvantages
The scientific management practices can not be adopted.
Eggs are lost when laid inside the dense grasses unless special
nests are provided.
Losses due to predatory animals are more.
Wild birds may bring diseases unless proper care is taken.
2) Semi-intensive system
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 and 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 stocking density rate on an average for adult birds is 750
per hectare.
This system is usually adopted for duck rearing. The feeding and
watering facilities are provided in the pen.
Advantages
More economical use of land compared to free range system
Protection of birds from extreme climatic conditions
Control over scientific operation is some extent possible
Disadvantages
High cost for fencing.
Need for routine cleaning and removal of litter material from
the pen.
16:15
3) Intensive system
Birds are totally confined to houses either on ground / floor or on
wire-netting floor in cages or on slats. It is the most efficient,
convenient and economical system for modern poultry production
with huge numbers.
Advantages
Minimum land is required for farming.
Farms can be located near market area.
Day-to-day management is easier.
The production performance is higher as more energy is saved
due to restricted movements.
Scientific management practices like breeding, feeding,
medication, culling etc. can be applied easily and accurately.
The sick birds can be detected, isolated and treated easily.
Disadvantages
Birds’ welfare is affected. They cannot perform the natural
behaviour like roosting, spreading wings, scratching the floor
with legs etc.
Since they are not exposed to outside sunlight and feed
sources, all the nutrients should be provided in balanced
manner to avoid nutritionally deficient diseases.
Chances for spreading of diseases are more.
Deep Litter System

In this system the birds are kept inside the house all the time.
Arrangement for feed, water and nest are made inside the house.
The birds are kept on suitable litter material of about 3” to 5” depth.
The word litter is used for fresh litter material spread on the floor.
Usually paddy husk, saw dust, ground nut hulls, chopped paddy
straw or wood shavings are used as litter materials. This
arrangement saves labour involved in frequent cleaning of faecal
matter (droppings), however it needs periodical stirring. The litter is
spread on the floor in layers of 2” height every fortnightly till the 16:15
required is achieved.
Read Also: Best Type of Poultry to Raise for Commercial

Production and their Time of Maturity
poultry poultry pen
Advantages
Vit B2 and Vit B12 are made available to birds from the litter
material by the bacterial action.
The welfare of birds is maintained to some extend
The deep litter manure is a useful fertilizer.
Lesser nuisance from flies when compared to cage system.
Disadvantages
Because of the direct contact between bird and litter, bacterial
and parasitic disease may be a problem.
Respiratory problems may emerge due to dust from the litter.
The cost of litter is an additional expenditure on production
cost.
Faults in ventilation can have more serious consequences than
in the cage system
The built up litter

Deep litter or built up litter is accumulation and decomposition of
litter material and excreta until it reaches a depth of 8” to 12”, after
an original start of 3” to 5” depth. Bacterial action decomposes litter
and excreta into crumble form and heat is produced during
decomposition which keeps litter dry and warm.
If the amount of droppings exceeds the litter, fresh litter will be

added to lower the amount of droppings. Periodical stirring of the
litter should be carried out for an effective functioning of built-up
litter.
After one year, the litter is changed and the decomposed litter is
used as good quality manure. The best built-up litter should be dry,
friable and free from obnoxious odour.
Slatted (Slotted) Floor 16:15

System
In a slatted floor, iron rods or wood reapers are used as floor,
usually 2-3 feet above the ground level to facilitate fall of droppings
through slats. Wooden reapers or iron rods of 2” diameter can be
used on lengthwise of the house with interspaces of 1” between
rods.
Advantages
Less floor space per bird is needed when compared to solid
floor system.
Bedding is eliminated
Manure handling is avoided
Increased sanitation
Saving in labour
Soil borne infection is controlled
Disadvantages
Higher initial cost than conventional solid floors
Less flexibility in the use of the building
Any spilled feed is lost through the slots
More fly problem.
Slat (Slot) Cum Litter

System
This system is commonly practiced for rearing birds for hatching
eggs production, particularly meat-type breeders. Here, a part of
the floor area is covered with slats.
Usually, 60% of the floor area is covered with slats and rest with
litter. Feeders and waterers are arranged in both slat and litter
area. In case of breeder flock, nest boxes are usually kept on litter
area.
Advantages
More eggs can be produced per unit of floor space than all
16:15
solid floors.
Fertility is better with the slat cum litter house than with the all-
slat house.
Disadvantages
Housing investment is higher with the slat cum litter house
than with the all-litter house.
The separation of birds from the manure beneath the slats
commonly results in fly problems.
Cage System
This system involves rearing of poultry on raised wire netting floor
in smaller compartments, called cages, either fitted with stands on
floor of house or hanged from the roof. It has been proved very
efficient for laying operations, right from day-old to till disposal.
At present, 75% of commercial layers in the world are kept in cages.

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 in this rearing system. The droppings are either collected in
trays underneath cages or on belts or on the floor or deep pit under
cages, depending on type of cages.

pen
pen
Advantages
Minimum floor space is needed
More number of eggs per hen can be received
Less feed wastage
Better feed efficiency
16:15
Protection from internal parasites and soil borne illnesses
Sick and unproductive birds can be easily identified and
eliminated.
Clean eggs production
Vices like egg eating, pecking is minimal.
Broodiness is minimal
No need of litter material
Artificial Insemination (AI) can be adopted.
Disadvantages
High initial investment cost.
Handling of manure may be problem. Generally, flies become a
greater nuisance.
The incidence of blood spots in egg is more
Problem of cage layer fatigue. (It is a condition, in which laying
birds in cages develop lameness. It may be due to Ca and P
deficiency but the exact reason is not known)
In case of broilers, incidence of breast blisters is more,
especially when the broilers weight is more than 1.5 kg.
Types of cages
Based on the number of birds in a cage, it is classified as
Single or individual bird cage (Only one bird in a cage)

Multiple bird cage (From 2 to 10 birds, usually 3 or 4 birds per
cage)
Colony cages (Holding birds more than 11 per cage)
Based on the number of rows
Single-deck
Double-deck
Triple-deck
Four-deck
Flat-deck
poultry farmer
16:15
Based on arrangement of cages
Read Also: IMPORTANCE OF RECORDS MAINTENANCE IN THE

POULTRY FARM
1) Stair-step cages
poultry farmer
a) M-type cages
b) L-type cages
2) Battery cages (Vertical cages)

poultry farmer
16:15
Based on the type of bird reared
1. Brooder / chick cages

2. Grower cages
3. Layer cages
4. Breeder cages
Broiler cages
1) Brooder cage / chick
cage
brooder cage
16:15
Brooder cage
Specifications: Front feeding length : 60 inch
Front & Back height : 12 inch
Depth : 36 inch
No. of chicks (0-8 weeks) accommodated per box : 60
Chick cages are arranged either as single deck or double deck

system. The feeders and waterers are arranged on outside.
Now-a-days nipple drinker system is followed from day-old itself.

Newspaper may be spread over the cage floor for first 7 or 10 days.
Feed is usually provided inside the cage during the first week of age.
2) Grower cage
grower cage grower cage
Grower cage Grower cage
Specifications: Front feeding length : 30 inch
Front & Back height : 15 inch
Depth : 18 inch
16:15
No. of growers (9 to 18 weeks) accommodated per box : 10
3) Layer cage
Two types of stair-step layer cages are commonly used in open-
sided poultry houses
1. Conventional cages
2. Reverse cages (Californian cages)
a) Conventional cages
pen
Specifications for each box:
Front feeding length : 15 inch
Front height : 18 inch
Back height : 15 inch
Depth : 18 inch
b) Reverse cages
Specifications for each box: Front feeding length : 18 inch
Front height : 18 inch
Back height : 15 inch
Depth : 15 inch
These cages can hold 3 to 4 birds. They are arranged either in 2-tier
or 3-tier. A slope of 1/6 is provided in conventional cages, where as
in reverse cages the slope is 1/5.
Advantages of reverse cages

over conventional cages
1. More feeding space is available in reverse cages. So, all 4 birds
can take feed at a time, where as in conventional cages, 3 birds
16:15
can take feed and the other one is waiting at the back.
2. Number of cracked eggs is less due to lesser rolling distance.
3. Better ventilation in reverse cages than conventional cages.
Elevated cage layer house

The height of the shed is raised by 6-7 feet using concrete pillars.
The distance between two pillars is 10 feet. Two feet wide concrete
platforms are made over the pillars. When 3 ‘M’ type cages are
arranged 4 platforms are needed. In case of 2 ‘M’ and 2 ‘L’ type
cages are arranged 3 platforms are needed.
When constructing platforms projecting angles or iron rods to be

provided to fix the cages. The inter-platform distance is 6-7 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. This type of houses
provides sufficient ventilation in tropical countries.
Read Also: Causes of Vent Pecking, Prolapsed Vent and

Cannibalism among Poultry Birds
How to construct your poultry pen

How to construct your poultry pen
Floor space requirements

Type Age
Deep-litter
Cages
(in weeks) (ft2) (ft2)
Egg-type 0-8 0.60 0.20

chicken
9-18 1.25 0.30
>18 1.50 0.50
Meat-type 0-4 0.30 –
chicken 4-8 0.75 –
References:
https://www.roysfarm.com/how-to-build-a-poultry-house/
16:15
http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/poultry/Poultry
%20House%20Construction.html
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Benadine Nonye
An Agric. Consultant & a Blogger- National Diploma in
Agricultural Technology
- Bachelor's Degree in
Agricultural Science
- Master's Degree in Science
Education...
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08/10/2022, 17:24 How to construct your poultry pen - Agric4profits.

Saturday, October 8, 2022 Latest:Legislative Methods of Pest Control     

 NEWS ANIMALS  PLANTS  AGRO-PROCESSING DISEASES/CONTROL 

PREMIUM  SHOP FORUM  SPONSORED

How to construct your poultry

The details of how the poultry pen should be constructed cannot

So in knowing how to construct, I suggest that an expert should be Twitter: @benadinenonye -

to build a poultry house is a common question for the producers.

Basically the poultry housing is the main process of keeping your

For successful poultry farming the chicken coop should contain

Rabbit Urine asked by Ashraf, 4

However, to be successful in poultry farming the producers must

Need for poultry house FAN MILK

Different types of poultry

houses at new dairy training

Relative Humidity – 30-60 %

Ammonia level – Less than 25 ppm

Litter moisture – 15-25%

Air flow – 10-30 metres/minute

House Orientation (Direction)

In environmentally controlled poultry houses, the width of the

Read Also: Best Type of Poultry to Raise for Commercial

Systems of Poultry Housing

Broadly, poultry housing systems are classified into three systems:

1. 1. Free range or extensive system

1) Free range system

A range provides shelter, greens, feed, water and shade. Foraging is

The fields are generally used on rotational basis after harvesting of

The success of rearing depends on maintenance of condition of

Deep Litter System

Read Also: Best Type of Poultry to Raise for Commercial

poultry poultry pen

The built up litter

If the amount of droppings exceeds the litter, fresh litter will be

Slatted (Slotted) Floor 16:15

Slat (Slot) Cum Litter

At present, 75% of commercial layers in the world are kept in cages.

Auto-operated feeding trolleys and egg collection belts can also be

How to construct your poultry

Single or individual bird cage (Only one bird in a cage)

Based on the number of rows

Based on arrangement of cages

Read Also: IMPORTANCE OF RECORDS MAINTENANCE IN THE

2) Battery cages (Vertical cages)

Based on the type of bird reared

1. Brooder / chick cages

Specifications: Front feeding length : 60 inch

Front & Back height : 12 inch

No. of chicks (0-8 weeks) accommodated per box : 60

Chick cages are arranged either as single deck or double deck

Now-a-days nipple drinker system is followed from day-old itself.

Grower cage Grower cage

Specifications: Front feeding length : 30 inch

Front & Back height : 15 inch

How to construct your poultry

Front height : 18 inch

Back height : 15 inch

Front height : 18 inch

Back height : 15 inch

Advantages of reverse cages

Elevated cage layer house

When constructing platforms projecting angles or iron rods to be