Type of placement and stocking density of broiler chickens when kept on floors at home

Floor keeping of poultry is used when raising poultry both in a private farmstead and on an industrial scale. The economic efficiency of this technique is lower than that of cells. But it also has significant advantages, thanks to which it is popular. The stocking density of broiler chickens when kept on the floor depends on whether there is a fan in the room.

This indicator is also influenced by other factors that a novice poultry farmer should familiarize himself with.

Advantages and disadvantages of floor housing for broilers

Floor keeping of broilers has a number of advantages, among which it should be noted:

• chickens grow and develop in conditions that are as close to natural as possible;
• the bird’s skeleton and muscles develop well, the risk of injury is reduced;
• while walking around the pen, chickens find pasture, which serves as a source of additional nutrition;
• the bird develops high immunity and normalizes metabolism;
• the movements of chickens are not limited, thanks to which they find suitable places for eating and resting, and do not suffer so much from the heat and lack of air;
• monetary costs for the purchase of additional equipment and inventory are reduced.

Meanwhile, this technology for raising broilers is not without certain disadvantages:

• irrational use of the premises, as a result of which the amount of meat products obtained from each square meter of the allocated area is reduced;
• maintenance of the premises is almost impossible to mechanize;
• the process of maintaining the necessary sanitary and hygienic conditions becomes more complicated;
• it is necessary to constantly change and dispose of litter;
• part of the energy from the consumed feed is spent on movement, and not on weight gain.

Varieties of the method

There are several varieties of the method of floor keeping of broilers in a poultry house, which have features of feeding, maintaining sanitary and hygienic standards and other necessary vital parameters.

A regular chicken coop without automatic water and feed supply with an attached run

This method of keeping broilers cannot be used if farms want to receive meat throughout the year. It is used when raising a small number of chickens (up to a hundred individuals) during the warm season. An important requirement in this case is the availability of high quality feed.

Operations of feeding, cleaning the premises, watering and cleaning in this case are performed exclusively by hand. The owner will need a certain amount of time to complete such procedures.

No-walk method with deep litter

This method of keeping broilers will require preparing a chicken coop with a thick layer of bedding made from natural materials. If at the same time you build an automatic system for distributing food and water, as well as equip a ventilation system, you can accommodate a large population - up to 1000 individuals. Poultry can be raised throughout the year.

Application of mesh floors

The construction of this type of chicken coop involves a number of activities. Stands are installed at a height of 0.5 m from the floor, on top of which frames are laid and a fine mesh is stretched. The size of the frames is 1.5 x 2 m. If desired, you can install trays under the mesh in which broiler droppings will accumulate. When kept, there is no contact between the bird and the droppings, which improves sanitary conditions. The collected droppings are used as fertilizer or sold for additional profit.

How to organize a floor system at home

The most effective and reliable method of keeping broilers on an industrial scale and in private households is the floor system. Organizing it yourself will not be difficult.

Preparation

Before moving broilers into the chicken coop, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work, which consists of:

• cleaning the premises;
• washing floors and walls;
• treatment with disinfectants;
• whitewashed with slaked lime.

You also need to take care to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. In winter, the room must be heated, and in summer it must be thoroughly ventilated.

Immediately before the broilers move in, feeders, drinking bowls are installed, and lighting is organized.

Litter

Proper laying and selection of bedding ensures warmth and comfort in the chicken coop. It is made exclusively from natural materials:

• straw;
• sunflower seed husk;
• sawdust;
• hay.

You can mix several types of bedding. Its thickness may vary depending on the season. In summer, 8-9 cm is enough, and in winter, up to 20 cm of material is laid. High-quality litter remains dry and loose all the time, its thickness is no more than 35 cm.

Equipment

First of all, lighting and ventilation devices are installed in the chicken coop. For ease of maintenance, the lamps are hung just above the person’s head. By installing windows, you save money on lighting, and they will also serve as a source of additional ventilation. Broilers feel more comfortable in such conditions. At the same time, the windows are covered with a metal mesh on the inside to prevent birds from escaping or wild animals getting into them.

To ensure that water does not spill out and wet the litter, vacuum or trough drinkers with special trays should be installed. The type of feeder installed depends on the type of feed that you plan to feed the broilers. When using mash, preference is given to shallow plastic or metal trays.

For raising broilers, it is useful to acquire devices such as a hygrometer and thermometer to be able to control the level of temperature and humidity.

Walk

Not far from the chicken coop, an area will be equipped where broilers will be walked daily. The fence is built from a chain-link mesh with a mesh size of no more than 1.5 cm. It is also necessary to build canopies under which the bird will hide from the sun. Drinkers and feeders are placed along the entire perimeter of the pen. Equipped ash baths prevent the appearance of parasites and diseases in broilers.

Type of placement and stocking density of broilers

Experts recommend placing 40 birds on every square meter of area. This planting density is considered the most effective. Optimal density without installing additional ventilation means - 15 individuals per 1 m², and with ventilation - 25 broilers per 1 m².

In households raising broilers for meat production, they use a type of planting without a partition, which allows the maximum possible number of chickens to be placed in the allotted area. At poultry farms, the area is divided into separate sections, and a central passage is organized between them.