Housing
New techniques allow hens to be housed in larger flocks – typically several thousand – and to benefit from insulated and ventilated buildings that come with “all mod cons”.
New techniques allow hens to be housed in larger flocks – typically several thousand – and to benefit from insulated and ventilated buildings that come with “all mod cons”.
Inside each house they have litter areas where they scratch and dustbathe and are never without food and water.
Specially developed nest boxes give the birds the quiet and security they need to lay as well as ensuring the egg is clean, quickly collected and can be stored in a temperature controlled environment. In the winter additional lighting extends the hens’ daytime which ensures an all year round supply of eggs.
With rapid growth and advances in technology across the industry there has never been such a variety and choice when it comes to poultry housing and laying systems design. Whether you are starting from early foundations or considering renovating existing buildings you must adhere to and appreciate strict welfare guidelines set out by DEFRA for free ranging, laying birds (Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets; Section 29-Housing).
Before construction starts, ensure the site is suitable for poultry production by taking into consideration risks from the outside environment such as: noise, light, flooding, pollution, predators and disease risks. If a new site is being proposed, consider utilising natural topography and features to provide extra shelter and protection for both the birds and housing.
Poultry housing and design must:
Provide the flock with adequate shelter and protection from adverse weather and environmental conditions.
Give the flock potential to fulfil their essential biological needs and maintain good health.
Allow effective management of the flock and facilitate routine inspections.
Provide easy management of air quality, hygiene and water quality.
Provide an environment that reduces the risk of disease, trauma and behavioural changes and protects against predators and wild animals.
Allow easy application of preventative and curative treatments.
Provide sufficient and suitable lighting to enable normal behaviour.
Incorporate a damp-proof membrane to prevent an insulation breakdown and rodent access to insulated areas.
The UK free range laying industry prides itself on high welfare standards and consideration must be taken when using EU or Non-EU laying systems that all standards are being met. The most significant areas that may determine whether a house is effective or not at housing a productive flock are:
Ventilation
Providing effective air exchange without having drafts through the house is vital. Laying birds have a high demand for oxygen transfer and large houses with tiered systems can struggle with adequate air movement.
Lighting
Hens are sensitive to light intensity, wavelength and distribution. Successful housing will provide easily managed light with good precision allowing birds to express normal behaviour.
Water
Laying hens must have easily accessible, clean water at all times.
Nesting design
Nest boxes must provide enough space to not cause competition or aggression between birds. Hens prefer a dark, quiet safe space to lay and it should be easily kept clean.
Perch design
Birds will spend many hours a day and up to 8-10 hours at night perching. Perch space must be constructed from a suitable material with no sharp edges. Perches must provide sufficient support for all forward-facing toes and claws.
As well as considering all the welfare requirements laid down by DEFRA regulations, housing design must allow for effective management and ease of cleaning and disinfecting.
Preventative medicine and early veterinary intervention are most affective when environmental and flock parameters are routinely measured, such as water intake, house temperatures, production, mortality and feed consumption. Keeping these things in consideration when setting up your poultry housing will enable you to best manage and maintain the housing, health and welfare of your flock throughout their laying lifecycle.
