There are different housing types for poultry and each defines the feeding method of the chicken. In this article, we will consider two types of poultry housing.
Basically there are four types of poultry farms:
- Deep litter
- Half litter and half slats
- Battery Cage
- Semi fold
But in this article, we will focus on two types: deep liter and battery cage as it is the major types of housing system used in Nigeria.
Deep liter cage system- this is a housing method in which cages are not installed and chicken are allowed to roam free over a restricted area.
Advantages-
- Cheap and easy to construct
- Low mechanical know how
- Suitable and convenient for small scale poultry farms
Disadvantages:
- Contact with chicken and their faeces which poses health risks
- Direct contact with eggs (in egg production chicken) which can cause breakage and reduction in revenue.
- Stock keeping is difficult
- Much Labour is required to feed and remove of waste
- Wastage of feeds as chicken might scatter the feeds
- Poor conversion of feed to meat or egg as energy is lost to movement.
Battery cage- this is a method in which chickens are restricted to a confined space or cage. This device method denies chicken from free movement.
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Advantages-
- Prevent contact of chickens with their faeces which reduce infection
- Lowers the overall cost of production.
- Prevent contact of chicken with their eggs thereby reducing breakage of egg and maximizing profit.
- Stocking is easily effected in battery cage system
- Easy removal of waste.
- Effective feed conversion in battery cage system as movement is restricted thereby reducing cost of energy through movement.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive to construct
- Not convenient for small scale poultry farms
- Ventilation.
- Easy to clean
- Ensure sufficient entrance of sunlight
- Be situated in a place free from wild animals.
- For deep litter, provision must be made to overcome wetting and can be achieved through the use of straw or saw dust.
- Should be well protected.
- Keep rain and other forms of water out.
- Make provision for the feeding requirements, etc
Conclusively, just as a good house contributes to the good health conditions of humans is also how a good poultry chickens.