POULTRY FARMING SYSTEMS

Free Range System

Few farmers keep chickens commercially under this system. Housing is simple and
cheap but any real environmental control is impossible.
The birds may be housed in a movable colony house of 3,3m by 1,7 on skids or wheels
holding upto 50 birds. This type of hut has a solid wooden base and is fitted with
perches, dropping boards and a nest.
An alternative is the slatted floor house which is similar but does allow a heavier
concentration of stock, 2,7 by 2 m for 60 birds.
Free range systems can be healthier but it is entirely wrong to believe they are
inherently healthier than indoor systems. Stockmen and birds are at the mercy of
weather elements and winter production may be poor.
Disadvantages: -
1. Higher mortality
2. Hens lay in bushes, etc. and it is difficult to find the eggs resulting in poor
quality.
3. A large percentage of dirty eggs are produced in wet weather.
4. It is difficult to immunize the chickens as they vary in age and cannot be caught
very easily.
5. Only exceptionally hardy breeds (often poor producers) can be kept for this
purpose.
6. the cost of production is very high relative to returns and production can cease
altogether under severely wintry conditions.

Mainly used in remote areas. Moved into a new era, the production of quality products
that are sold at a premium.
To overcome some of these disadvantages birds can be kept in fold unit which consists
of a covered in roost with slatted floor measuring 1,7 by 1,7m with a height of 1m and
with totally wire enclosed run in front of about 4m long. It can house 20 – 35 birds.

Semi-Intensive System
Consists of fixed pen with outside run. Used by the domestic poultry keeper. Typical unit
consists of 50 birds kept in a house 3 by 3m with two runs 10m by 10m, the birds alternating
between them at 6 monthly intervals.
Keep more chickens in a smaller area. More expensive to manage and chickens roam.
Lay their eggs in buildings. Usually one square metre is allocated per chicken.

1. The ground easily becomes dusty, muddy and infected with diseased, worms,
coccidiosis etc.
2. All plant material and insects are soon destroyed and no addition to the diet is
possible.
3. During wet weather a large percentage of dirty eggs is produced.
4. The effectiveness of feed consumption decreases with a rise in production costs.
 5. Predators such as cats, dogs and hawks are a danger.
6. Egg eating occurs easily and is difficult to avoid.
7. It is difficult to keep out wild birds that can eat large amounts of food.
8. The system is very labour intensive and can be profitable on a small scale
provided
a. Use only well drained ground
b. Wash and disinfect the buildings regularly
c. Ensure that there is sufficient clean, dry litter available.
d. Keep the chickens inside during wet weather.
e. Replace nesting material regularly.
f. Ensure that the nests are in the dark.
g. Supply sufficient nest (one to four per five hens).

Intensive Systems
Chickens are kept inside continually.

Floor System
Deep litter system.
Chickens run around freely on a floor covered with a layer of litter. Capital intensive
suitable designed buildings must be erected, balanced feed given. Attention must be
paid to the prevention of diseases. Suitable for both laying hens and broilers. Four to
five laying hens and 10 to 19 broilers can be kept per square metre. Only highly
productive chickens can be kept profitably.
Automation can greatly reduce the chores of egg collection and feeding.
A slatted area over a droppings pit can be incorporated with the perches, feeders and
drinkers.

Straw yard.
Historically introduced as a cheaper version of the deep litter by farmers who had
abundant straw and old redundant buildings. As compared to fully intensive system it
gave lower yields and often dirty eggs. The majoe disease problem is infection with
intestinal worms the viability of the worm eggs being favoured by the damp conditions,
though plenty of straw and good drainage can help reduce this problem.
The system basically consists of a shed, uninsulated and open fronted. In front of this is
built an uncovered compound. Each bird is given 0,18 m2 of covered space and about
twice as much of uncovered area.
The main problem is avoiding draughts and cold winds.

Slatted floor system.

Involves keeping birds on totally slatted or totally wire floored housing. High stocking
densities of 0,09m2 per bird. Labour requirements are low. Many eggs can be laid on
the floor and be lost and behavioural problems associated with high stocking rates.

Layout for floor laying houses.

Equipment should be arranged so that the various tasks associated with management-
feeding and egg collection can be carried out easily. For small buildings (500 layers) a
service room may be placed at one end of the house and the nests arranged so that
collection is from this room.
In larger buildings with automatic feeding the more usual arrangement is to have a
central service passage and nests on each side so that a quick collection is made.
If birds are fed manually it is preferable to have the nests against the wall and
overhead monorail and conveyor adjoining the nests.

Battery Systems
Extremely suitable for large scale enterprises as the system is labour-saving and offers
opportunities for mechanization such as automatic feed and water systems, egg
collection, manure disposal, etc. Is space-saving as several layers of cages can be
placed one above the other. Feed wastage can be kept to a minimum and feed
conversion is outstanding movement of the hens is limited. Easy to control diseases
and to regulate the lighting. Important disadvantages are the high cost of construction
and the demands of management.
Number of birds per cage varies from 2 – 25 (popular 3-5). Cage width vary as follows:-
225 – 300mm for a single light hybrid, 300 – 325mm for two heavier hybrids. Cages are
usually 450mm deep and 450mm high at the front, sloping to 350mm at the back.
The floor extends at least 150mm in front to form an egg cradle and the droppings –
tray or belt, has a minimum clearance of 100mm below the floor of the cage. Each bird
should have 100mm of trough space.

Various cage systems.

Stacked cages:- one on top of the other, 3 or 4 tiers high and mostly mechanically
cleaned by a scraper or plastic belt or disposable paper belts. Some are mechanically
cleaned. Occasionally more than 4 tiers are used, even upto six or seven and an
intermediate catwalk is required to service the top tiers.

Californian or stair step (a.k.a deep pit system):- these are staggered so the droppings
go into a large pit under the cages and can be bult up right through the laying cycle
when they are cleaned out by a tractor and front loader. These may also be 2 or more
tiers high.

Flat deck system:-

Egg production under different housing systems.

System Egs/bird (dozen) Food/bird (kg) Feed conversion
Free range 14 54 11,4
Intensive (ppor 17 50 8,6
control)
Intensive (fully 20 43 6,3
controlled
environment

Stocking densities.
Floor space/bird (m2)
Layers.
Deep litter 0.27
Deep litter and slats in ratio 2:1 0.18
Deep litter and slats in ratio 1:2 0.14
All slats or welded mesh 0.09
Multi-bird batteries and house 0.18-0.27
Totally covered straw yard 0.27

Rearing
Tier brooders 0.27 at 3 weeks
Floor rearing 0.09 – 0.14
Hay box brooder 0.03 to 8 weeks