broiler housing

• brooder guard -  materials that can restrict the movement of brooder chicks and is placed around the brooder stoves/lamps
• brooding - process of supplying heat to the chicks after they hatch up to the time that their natural heat regulatory mechanisms become fully functional
• litter - bedding material
• open-sided housing - long and narrow type of houses; at least 1/2 of the front and the back of house are open
• enclosed housing - house where ideal environmental requirement of the animal is provided thru mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting
• Location of a Broiler Farm

  • the location shall conform to the land use plan of the area
  • the building shall be constructed in an east west orientation
  • the structure for marketable animals shall be located near the service road
• The site shall be:

  • accessible to service roads, water supply, and electric lines
  • well drained and allows for free air circulation
  • located where the prevailing winds will not carry odors to the farmhouse
• Classification of Broiler House

  • type of roof
  • type of floor
  • type of enclosure
• Type of Roof

  • lean-to-roof
  • span/ridged roof
• Type of Floor

  • slotted floor
  • solid floor

  > litter-type floor

  > concrete floor with cages
• Type of Enclosure

  • open-sided housing
  • enclosed housing
• Floor Space Requirements for Broilers

  
• Structural Requirements of Roof

  • at least one-meter roof overhang: to ensure shade and to protect the chicken from rain
  • designed to carry additional dead loafs such as suspended feeders
  • equipped with gutters; rainwater can be drained away separately
• Ceiling (optional)

  • at least 2.4m high
• Walls

  • materials; chicken wire or bamboo slats
  • there should be provision to protect young chicks and older birds during periods of cold weather and extreme winds
• Door

  • entrance door: at least 900 mm wide by 2 m high: swings inward
  • covered with 25 mm mesh wire netting
  • in between pens: hung in pairs and made to swing in both direction (feed and litter carriers can be pushed through from either direction)
• Floors

  Slotted Floor

  • width of slat: 25 mm - 50 mm
  • space in between slat: 25 mm - 38 mm
  • top of slats: plastic net or fish net with 25 mm holes
  • if welded wire: 625 sq. mm mesh.
  • slats or wire floors: constructed in sections (so that they may be removed when it is necessary to clean the droopings from under them or when the house is cleaned)
• Floors

  Litter-Type Floor

  • at least 50 mm - 100 mm deep over the cemented floor
  • there should be solid wall (60 mm high) around the cemented floor
  • light in weight, medium particle size, highly absorbent, dry rapidly, soft and compressible, low and thermal conductivity, inexpensive
  • designed to carry concentrated loads such as the maximum total weight of the birds
• Housing Sizes

  • width of the pen: about 10 mm -12 mm
  • length of the house: depend on the terrain of the land on the length of the automatic feeding equipment
• Brooding Area

  
• Brooding Area

  • surrounded with cardboard, metal sheeting or any hard board: minimum height of 450 mm (to protect the chicken from draught/cool air moving in a closed space)

  Artificial Light

  • during first 48 hours: total of 23 hours of light at 35 watts/sq. m of illumination
  • after first 48 hours: light intensity reduced
• Aisles and Walkways

  • at least 1m wide
• Equipment and Facilities

  • feeders
  • waterer
  • lighting
  • ventilation

   
• Feeder Length Requirement

  
• Feeder

  • linear

  
• Feeders

  • round

  
• Waterer Length Requirement

  
• Lighting

  • artificial lighting with an intensity of 200 lux shall always be available for use during the night or darkened periods of the day
• Ventilation

  Natural Ventilation

  • outlets: ridge or chimney opening on the downwind side of the building
  • inlets: through vent doors, curtains, or other large openings along the long sides of the building
  • automatic controls: provided to maintain indoor temperature and air exchange when necessary

  Mechanical Ventilation

  • fans: installed on the side opposite to the prevailing winds
• Broiler House (Typical Front/Rear Elevation)

  
• Broiler House (Typical Side Elavation)

  
• Broiler House (Cross Section)