Floor stocking density of broilers: type of placement, rules

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

Also, this indicator is influenced by other factors that a beginner poultry breeder should be familiar with.

Advantages and disadvantages of floor housing 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 skeleton and muscles of the bird develop well, the risk of injury is reduced;
when walking around the paddock, chickens find pasture for themselves, which serves as a source of additional nutrition;
the bird develops high immunity and normalizes metabolism;
chicken movements are not limited, thanks to which they find acceptable places for eating and resting, they are not so tormented by heat and lack of air;
monetary costs for the purchase of additional equipment and inventory are reduced.

Meanwhile, this technology of growing broilers is not without certain disadvantages:

irrational use of the premises, as a result of which the amount of meat products received from each square meter of the allotted territory is reduced;
maintenance of the premises is almost impossible to mechanize;
complicating the process of maintaining the necessary sanitary conditions;
needs to constantly change and dispose of bedding;
part of the energy from food consumed is spent on movement, not on weight gain.

Varieties of method

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

Ordinary chicken coop without automatic water and feed supply with attached paddock

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

Feeding, cleaning, watering and cleaning operations in this case are performed exclusively by hand. The owner will need a certain margin of time to perform such procedures.

No-run 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 you simultaneously build an automatic system for distributing food and water, as well as equipping a ventilation system, then you can accommodate a large livestock - up to 1000 individuals. The bird can be grown throughout the year.

Using mesh floors

The construction of this type of chicken coop involves a number of activities. At a height of 0.5 m from the floor, stands are installed, on top of which frames are laid and a fine mesh is pulled. The size of the frames is 1.5 x 2 m. If desired, pallets can be installed under the net, in which broiler manure will accumulate. When keeping, there is no contact of the bird with the droppings, due to which sanitary conditions are improved. The collected droppings are used as fertilizer or sold for additional profit.

How to organize a floor system at home

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

Preparation

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

room cleaning;
washing floors and walls;
treated with disinfectants;
whitewash with slaked lime.

You also need to take care of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the room. In winter, the room must be warmed up, and thoroughly ventilated in summer.

Immediately before settling broilers, feeders, drinkers, and lighting are installed.

Litter

Proper laying and litter selection ensures warmth and comfort in the 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 bedding remains dry and loose all the time, its thickness is no more than 35 cm.

Equipment

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

In order for water not to spill out and wet the litter, vacuum or grooved drinkers with special trays should be installed. The type of feeder to be installed depends on the type of feed that is planned to be fed to the broilers. When using mixers, preference is given to shallow plastic or metal trays.

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

Walking

Not far from the chicken coop, a platform will be equipped where the daily walking of broilers will be carried out. The fence is built from a chain-link mesh with a mesh size of not more than 1.5 cm. It is also necessary to build canopies under which the bird will hide from the sun. Drinking bowls and feeders are placed around the entire perimeter of the corral. Equipped ash baths prevent the appearance of parasites and diseases in broilers.

Type of stocking and stocking density of broilers

Experts recommend placing 40 birds per square meter. This planting density is considered the most effective. The optimal density without installing additional ventilation means is 15 birds per 1 m², and with ventilation - 25 broilers per 1 m²

Households raising broilers for meat use a bare-free stocking type to accommodate as many chickens as possible in the allotted area.At poultry farms, the area is divided into separate sections, and a central passage is organized between them.