HOUSING

Housing The purpose of a poultry house is to confine the birds; to protect them from predators and environmental extremes which would cause mortality or reduce growth, feed efficiency, immunocompetence, fertility or egg production; to facilitate light control; and to facilitate bird management. Poultry houses can be constructed from locally available building materials. Smooth interior surfaces are preferred for effective sanitation. Houses are usually a maximum of 40 ft (12 m) wide to facilitate more uniform ventilation. House length is approximately 500 ft (152 m); most houses are constructed with a gable roof. Production systems Chickens for table egg production are often housed in cages to provide cleaner eggs and protect the birds from disease agents which are recycled to birds from the manure. Meat chickens and turkeys are usually grown in litter-floor houses because heavier poultry experience more lameness, breast blisters, and weaker bones and joints when grown in cages.