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Agriculture for Secondary Schools
In designing moveable poultry coops and fold houses, one has to ensure that they
are easy to move, they do not harm birds when moved, they withstand high winds,
they protect poultry from predators and harsh weather, they need low maintenance
cost, they enable management operations to be done smoothly, and they sustain the
needs of growing birds.
Intensive poultry housing system
In this system, birds are totally confined to houses either on ground/floor or on wire-
netting floor in cages or on slats. This housing system is more efficient, convenient
and economical for modern commercial poultry production. It has three categories
which are deep litter system, slatted floor system and cage or battery system. These
sub-divisions of intensive poultry system are further elaborated here.
Deep litter poultry housing system: In this system, the birds are confined in the
house all the time. Arrangements for feed, water, nests and perches are made inside
the house. The floor of the house can be made by rough concrete or rammed earth
and it is covered with dry litter materials up to the depth of about 8 cm in broiler and
15 cm in the layers’ house. Several litter materials such as rice husk, sawdust, wood
shavings, chopped straw, dried leaves and grinded nutshells can be used depending
on their cost and availability. In layers chicken, the litter is spread on the floor of 5
cm height every two weeks until the required depth is achieved.
Under deep litter system of housing, a minimum floor space of 30 cm per broiler
2
and 50 cm per layer chicken is required. However, in hot areas the floor space may
2
be increased to some extent by reducing the stocking density. The walls may be
half-solid with the rest half-open but protected against rats and flies by wire mesh.
The roof should also be well designed and water-proof. With deep litter housing
system, the welfare of birds is maintained to some extent and deep litter manure is
a useful fertiliser. Bacterial and parasitic diseases may be a problem because of the
direct contact between bird and litter. Respiratory problems may also emerge due
to dust from the litter. Besides, the cost of litter may be additional expenditure on
production cost if it is not readily available. Figure 4.16 shows a layout of typical
poultry house while Figures 4.17 and 4.18 show examples of deep litter housing for
broilers and indigenous chicken, respectively.
Student’s Book Form Three
78
10/01/2025 12:31
AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 78
AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 78 10/01/2025 12:31
