PREPARING POULTRY LAYER HOUSE

The ideal house should provide the birds with a comfortable environment and protect them from the extremities of the prevailing climate (rain, wind, sunshine etc). The house should provide adequate space for the flock to be kept in the house. The ideal stocking density is two square foot per bird (2 ft²/bird).

In the tropics, the ideal house is open‐sided to allow natural ventilation and have an east‐ west orientation to minimize the amount of sunlight entering the house directly. It is important that the house be rectangular in shape and has walls not higher than three feet on the longer side. The wall can be made from off‐cuts, iron sheets, silver boards or bricks. The rest of the side to the wall should have a wire mesh. The roof of the house should have a reflecting surface and be pitched with overlaps (see diagram). These factors aid in ensuring that the house is comfortable and well ventilated.

Cement floors are the best finish as they are easier to clean. There should be a foot‐bath at the entrance to the house for those entering the house to disinfect their foot ware.

To reduce the risk of rodents gaining entrance into the flock house, clear all the vegetation in an area 3‐4 meters around the flock house. The feed store should also be separate from the house.

HYGIENE AND SANITATION

In commercial layers farms an all‐in all‐out system is the best management practice as it prevents the build up of disease causing organisms and disease outbreaks. In cases where farmers want to keep flocks of different ages, then each flock MUST be housed in its own house, and have a distance of 10m between the units.

The flock house should be constructed in isolated areas to decrease the risk of contamination. The house should be fenced to exclude stray animals and visitors. The door should always be locked.

The wire mesh on the sides of the house should be of a small gauge ½” mesh, to prevent entry of wild birds, cats, dogs and rodents.

Only essential staff should enter the flock house. When visitors are allowed access to the flock house, a record showing name, purpose of visit and previous farm visited should be maintained.

Poultry workers should always wear clean, disinfected foot ware and clothing. When visiting birds of different ages, start with the youngest flock and always visit sick flocks last, irrespective of their age.

Take measures to control all rodents, wild birds and insects as they are known vectors of poultry diseases. Such measures can be mechanical, biological or chemical.

Do not permit the introduction of materials and / or equipment into the poultry house without thorough cleaning and disinfection as these items can be carriers of disease‐causing organisms.

As soon as the spent flock has been depopulated, the layer house and equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

It is important to allow the house to remain empty for at least 2 weeks (after the manure has been removed) before the next flock is placed. This allows time to reduce the build up of disease‐causing organisms and to prepare the house effectively for the next flock.

After the birds have been removed from the house, remove all the equipment from the house and dampen the ceiling, walls and litter with water. This helps to minimize dust during litter removal.

Remove all old litter and dispose of it at least 1.5km from the farm. Do not store it on, or spread it near the farm as it can re‐contaminate the clean house when the wind might blow it back into the house or via workers boots if they walk over it on their way to the house.

  

All unused feed in the feeders should be disposed of and not stored for the next flock to minimize chances of disease transmission. Only feed in bags stored in a store separated from the house can be kept for the next flock.

Wash the house with water and soap starting with the roof followed by the walls and finally the floor. Allow the house to dry before spraying the whole house with disinfectant solution again starting from the roof. Simultaneously, wash and disinfect all the equipment from the house. Repair and maintenance to the house and / or equipment should be done during this time.

Once the house is dry, place four inches of litter material and put back all the clean and disinfected equipment into the house. Common types of litter are wood‐shavings, straw, rice husks and coffee husk. Good litter should insulate the floor and absorb moisture from the chicken droppings.

Prepare the brooder area at least 24 house before the chicks arrive.

Depending on the climatic conditions, the brooders MUST be turned on at lease 6 hours prior to the arrival of the chicks. This ensures that the house environment, water and feed are at the right temperature when the chicks arrive.