care and housing

location

• align to minimise spread by wind borne disease

• avoid entry of run off water from sloping ground

• avoid rban settings

• good road access

design and construction

• avoiding cold floors: under floor bedding, under floor insulation, adequate bedding

• slatted floors:shupuld be matched to anmals, fully not for breeding, not sharp

ventilation

• for sheds with low roofs, fan assisted ventilation is more effective

• different ventilation systems produce different heat gradients

• shed temperature can be regulated by thermostatically controlled fan speed or inlet/aperture size

• pattern of air flow from inlet can differ between summer and winter

• reversed ventilation gives a more even flow of air as opposed to conventional

• positive pressured filtered air has lowest risk of airborne pathogen entry into the shed

risk of overcrowding

• faecal soiling

• foot disorder

• poor air quality and respiratory disease

• overheating during hot weather

• competition for lying area and feeding/drinking space

types of ventilation

• natural

• positive pressure- forcing air in with a fan

• negative- extracting with a fan

• ducted- duct through which air is delivered, air can be heated or filtered

why is lighting important? poultry

• can be used to control alarm behaviour, aggression and cannibalism

• can influence behavour and help prevent leg disorders

• can influence feeding patterns

• influences age at onset of lay

• makes inspection of birds easier

factors affecting feeder and trough design

• reach of animal

• ways in which feed is wasted

• competition

• delivery method

• limiting intake

different bedding materials

• straw

• sawdust

• wood chip and shavings

• sand

what is ventilation used to control

• temp

• humidity

• transfer of air borne pathogens

• air quality (ammonia, dust, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide)

water

• water meter indicator for poultry

• useful for administering drugs and vaccines