Poultry Farming

Early Poultry Production

• Prior WW II most chickens were produced
in open or dirt floor sheds.

• With the breeds and feeds available: 3.5

lbs bird ~ 16 wks.

• P markets were local, the birds to be

transported live and process close to end
user.
Early Poultry Production
 Early production systems
• Not specialized, flocks produced meat and
eggs, the producer could utilize or sell.
• Rural and urban families raised chickens
to supplement their income and table.
• Dirt floor, litter and waste were removed
by hand, most of early houses were
naturally ventilated, but producers often
provide additional ventilation.
 Poultry 1940 - 1960
• Advances in breeding/genetics, feeds and
nutrition improved FCR, cut production
time for 3.5 lbs from 16-8 wks.

• Advances in refrigeration expanded

distribution of processed birds and eggs
and enlarged the market.

• Dynamics of poultry market and industry

had changed.
 Poultry 1940 - 1960
• Scale of production
increased
• Large flocks in houses or
open yards became
norm
• Price of chicken dropped
from $0.65, 1940 to
$0.29/lbs in 1960
• Demand for poultry
products grew in
response
 Modern Poultry Production
• Today large scale chicken production is
done in total confinement facilities.
– Weather
– Predators/parasites
– Pathogens
– Automation
– Intensive production schedules
– Control of waste runoff
 Modern Poultry Production

• Note the natural ventilation and insulation

used in this turkey house
 Poultry Production
• Modern poultry operators tend to specialize in one type
of production.

• Poultry housing must be geared toward each individual

operation.
• Houses for various production enterprises may differ
greatly in size, appearance, and arrangement of
facilities.

• Have some similar requirements.

– A good location, with good water source, well-insulated building,
equipped with a proper ventilation, heating, lighting, feeding and
watering system.
Separation by Age Class & Product
• Poultry producers are separating birds by
species age class and product.
– Brooding – chicks & poults
– Breeding – hens & roosters/toms
– Laying – egg production
– Broilers – meat production
• Age segregation:
– Customize environment to optimize productivity
– Prevent the spread of pathogens
• Younger birds more susceptible than older.
 Brooding
• Early period of growth
when supplemental
heat must be
provided.

• Start at 95° F and

reduced by 5° each
wk.
 Brooding

• Brooding rings are used to keep chicks and

poults near food, water and heat, critical for their
survival
 Breeding

• Roosters and hens are most productive at 72° F

 Breeding
• Light effects sexual maturity, decreasing
photo periods will delay sexual maturity.

• Breeding houses are often “blackout”

 Laying hens

• Prefer temperature of 70-72° F

• Sophisticated ventilation is required to support
this battery cage arrangement.
• Eggs in the trays below the hens.
 Broiler/Grow-out Facilities

• Broilers need consistent temperatures and

constant access to feed and water to grow
efficiently, slotted floor for waste.
P production as integrator driven
• Integrators, large agribusinesses, contract
farmers to raise their poultry.

• Integrator owns the birds, provides feed and

veterinary supplies/care

• Farmer provides land, labor and capital.

( farmer assumes most of the risk)

• Production decisions made by the integrator,

including building specifications and even the
contractor hired to do the building.
 Integrator poultry systems
• Farmer in an integrated system will
receive hatched chicks from the integrator.

• Chicks raised in brooding facility until they

are large enough to be moved into broiler
grow-out housing

• Broilers, fed until they reach market weight

and shipped out live for processing.
 Broiler & Breeding Environments
• Integrated company programs vary but
consistent temperatures of 70 - 72° F
produce the best performance in mature
birds.
• Maintaining temperature consistency and
uniformity throughout the house is as
important as the temperature itself.
 Warm Weather Ventilation

• The 72° F optimum temperature is the effective temperature the bird

feels.
• in warm weather ventilation alone will not reduce the temperature
enough.
• The wind chill effect of tunnel ventilation and evaporative cooling
pads help to lower the effective temperature.
Ventilation
 Cold Weather Ventilation
• In winter months min venti removes
ammonia and moisture.
• In very cold weather temp. can not be
maintained
• Supplemental heating may be required
even in the deep south.
• Forced air heating is becoming more
common especially in breeding facilities
 Feeding

• Feed delivery, largely automated.

 Watering Systems

• Watering, highly automated

 Waste Systems

• Slotted floor with flush.

• Dry conveyor systems
• Litter and manure systems