Housing, Equipment and Farm Layout
Site and layout
Choose an elevated, well-drained site with good water, electricity and road access, away from residences and other livestock. In hot climates, orient the long axis east-west to reduce direct sun on side walls. Arrange clean operations before dirty ones: feed store and egg room near the entrance, growing sheds in the middle, sick pen and manure pit downwind and at the far end. Provide a footbath, vehicle dip and fence.
Housing and equipment
Common systems are deep litter, slatted floor, cage and free-range. Deep litter needs dry, absorbent litter such as paddy husk, stirred to prevent caking. Floor space guides: broilers about 0.9-1.0 sq ft per bird, layers about 2-2.5 sq ft per bird; cage and free-range allowances differ. Equipment includes brooders, linear or round feeders, drinkers, nests, perches, lighting, thermometers and weighing scales. Feeder and drinker space must be sufficient so that birds do not crowd.
Worked example. House 500 broilers at 1 sq ft per bird. Floor area = 500 sq ft. Add 10% for feeders, drinkers and service = 550 sq ft. A shed 25 ft by 22 ft gives 550 sq ft, so it is suitable.
Traps. Do not confuse floor space with cage space; do not ignore ventilation while calculating area; do not place the manure pit near the intake; and do not use wet, mouldy litter.