poultry housing Flashcards
what is controlled environment housing
-maintain an environment which closly approximates the requirements of the bird
- significant reliance on environment managment
what does a Canadian broiler barn look like
- closed system no windows
- no high grass - limits rodents
how does temperature control work in barns
- its at bird level
- completely enclosed
- well insulated
- no windows - light controlled less active birds
where is litter floor housing common
- primarily used for broiler chickens, breeders, turkeys and turkey breeders
what are litter characteristics
soft, water absorbant, insulative, inexpensive biodegradable and non toxic ( mold, heavy metals)
what are common materials used for litter
straw, shavings, ground corn cobs, paper
what is under the shavings
concrete or dirt floor - depends on when the barn was built = older = dirt
what is slat litter housing
- plastic or wood slats are used in combination with litter floor in most broiler breeder barns and many non cage system for laying hens
- usually plastic because wood will rot or hold on to disease
- 1/3 litter 2/3 slats
- feeders with different slat bars so males cant get in
why dont birds go outside
- weather
- barren (not alot of cover)
- easy targets to preydation
what type of cage is being phased out
conventional cages
what is in an enriched cage
- nest boxes
- scratch pad for dust bathing
- perches
- foraging
what is a free run system
- nest boxes
- perches
- foraging and dust bathing
- large open spaces
- issues : getting hurt and hard to control excreta
what is open sided poultry housinf
- side wall is open or covered (plastic curtains, solid partitions)
- ventilation can vary in sophistication
- natural ventilation controlled manually or automatically
what are the two types of ventilation
- cross ventilation - during early brooding
- tunnel ventilation - birds age and temperature rises