Poultry Housing

ERT 352 Farm Structures

Early Poultry Production

Prior to the second world war most
chickens were produced in open yards or
dirt floor sheds.
With the breeds and feeds available: back
yard producers could produce a 3.5 lb bird
in about 16 weeks.
Poultry markets were local as the birds
had to be transported live and process
close to the end user.

Early Poultry Production

Early production systems were not specialized, flocks produced meat and
eggs which the producer could utilize or sell. Many rural and even urban
families raised chickens to supplement their income and table. Note the
dirt floor, litter and waste were removed by hand. While most of these
early chicken houses were naturally ventilated, but producers often
improvised additional ventilation.

Poultry 1940 - 1960

Advances in breeding/genetics and feeds
and nutrition improved feed conversion
and cut production time for a 3.5 lb bird
from 16 to 8 weeks.
Advances in refrigeration expanded
distribution of processed birds and eggs
and enlarged the market.
The dynamic of the poultry market and the
industry had changed.

Poultry 1940 - 1960

The scale of
production increased
Large flocks in houses
or open yards became
the norm
The price of chicken
dropped from $0.65/lb
1940 to $0.29/lb in
1960
Demand for poultry
products grew in
response

Modern Poultry Production

Today large scale chicken and turkey
production is done in total confinement
facilities.
Weather
Predators/parasites
Pathogens
Automation
Intensive production schedules
Control of waste runoff

Modern Poultry Production

Note the natural ventilation and insulation

used in this turkey house

Poultry Production
Modern poultry operators tend to specialize in one type
of production.
Poultry housing must be geared toward each individual
operation.
Houses for various production enterprises may differ
greatly in size, appearance, and arrangement of
facilities.
However, they also have some similar requirements.
A good location, with a good water source and a well-insulated
building, equipped with a proper ventilation, heating, lighting,
feeding and watering system are important in all types of poultry
housing.

Separation by Age Class & Product

Like the swine industry, poultry producers are
separating birds by species age class and
product.

Brooding chicks & poults

Breeding hens & roosters/toms
Laying egg production
Broilers meat production

Age segregation:
Customize environment to optimize productivity
Prevent the spread of pathogens
Younger birds more susceptible than older birds.

Brooding
early period of growth
when supplemental
heat must be
provided, due to the
birds inability to
generate enough body
heat.
Start at 95 F and
reduced by 5 each
week.

Brooding

Brooding rings are used to keep chicks and

poults near food, water and heat, critical for their
survival

Breeding

Roosters and hens are most productive at 72 F

Breeding
Light effects the sexual maturity of birds,
for example decreasing photo periods will
delay sexual maturity.
Breeding houses are often blackout
facilities where the entry of light is tightly
controlled so the producer can control the
amount of light received by the birds
through artificial lighting.

Laying hens

Prefer a temperature of 70-72 F

Sophisticated ventilation is required to support
this battery cage arrangement.
Note the eggs in the trays below the hens.

Broiler/Grow-out Facilities

Broilers need consistent temperatures and

constant access to food and water to grow
efficiently. Note the slotted floor for waste.

Most poultry production in Virginia

is integrator driven
Integrators are large agribusinesses, which
contract farmers to raise their poultry.
The integrator owns the birds, provides the feed
and the veterinary supplies/care
The farmer provides the land, labor and the
capitol. (Consequently the farmer assumes most
of the risk)
In this system most of the production decisions
are made by the integrator, including building
specifications and even the contractor hired to
do the building.

Integrator poultry systems

Typically a farmer in an integrated system
will receive hatched chicks from the
integrator.
The chicks are raised in a brooding facility
until they are large enough to be moved
into broiler grow-out housing
The broilers are fed until they reach
market weight and are shipped out live for
processing.

Broiler & Breeding Environments

Integrated company programs vary but
consistent temperatures of 70 - 72 F
produce the best performance in mature
birds.
Maintaining temperature consistency and
uniformity throughout the house is as
important as the temperature itself.

Warm Weather Ventilation

The 72 F optimum temperature is the effective temperature the bird

feels.
in warm weather ventilation alone will not reduce the temperature
enough.
The wind chill effect of tunnel ventilation and evaporative cooling
pads help to lower the effective temperature.

Ventilation

Cold Weather Ventilation

In the winter months minimum ventilation
removes ammonia and moisture.
However in very cold weather
temperatures can not be maintained
Supplemental heating may be required
even in the deep south.
Forced air heating is becoming more
common especially in breeding facilities

Feeding

Feed delivery has been largely automated.

Watering Systems

Watering has also been highly automated

Waste Systems

Slotted floor with flush.

Dry conveyor systems
Litter and manure systems

References

Auburn University, Poultry Production & Housing,

http://www.aces.edu/poultryventilation/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency online,
http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/ag101/poultrysystems.html