Avian Production Management

FLOOR SPACE ALLOWANCE

• The floor space requirement per broiler depends on their body weight, housing system and climatic conditions.
• Approximately 540 cm² (0.6 square feet) per kg live body weight is the required floor space for broilers on floor under tropical conditions
• Accordingly, at the end of two, four, six and seven weeks of age, floor space allowances of 120, 367, 730 and 945 cm² space per bird is required for average body weights of 220, 680, 1350 and 1750 g respectively
• For a body weight of 1650 g, 900 cm ² (one square foot) of floor space is sufficient. In summer, the space allowance may be increased by 20 per cent and in winter reduced by 15 per cent.
• When they are reared in cages, half the spaces suggested are sufficient.
• The cages must be fitted at a height of 75 cm above floor level with feeders and drinkers fitted on the sides, running along the length and width of the cages.
• Cage houses meant for broilers need not have sidewalls, and weld-mesh cover may be provided up to the bottom floor level.
• The cage mesh size should be 1.25 x 1.25 cm for the floor and 2.5 x 5.0 cm on the sides to allow birds to take feed and water.
• Many practical difficulties, like injuries to the flesh of the birds or to the attending workers, breast blisters due to the heavy weight of the birds, leg weakness, difficulty in gathering for the market, maintenance costs, etc., have forced farmers to abandon this system of housing for broilers.
• The emergence of full automation of feeding and watering and environmentally controlled houses may encourage farmers to opt for cage housing for broilers in future, as it ensures a faster growth rate, better feed efficiency and lower mortality levels.
• Environmentally controlled broiler houses may be established in future in this region when higher investments are made in broiler rearing for large-sized broiler farms. Such houses will have no windows. Hot air will be removed by exhaust systems and fresh air introduced through inlets by negative pressure. Air temperature, relative humidity, lighting, ammonia level, ventilation rate, etc., will be monitored and controlled automatically. Birds with the best micro-environment will grow faster with better feed efficiency.