EQUIPMENTS
Poultry equipment must be of proper design to be convenient and efficient. Separate equipment are required for different sys tems and also for different stages.
Poultry equipment must be of proper design to be convenient and efficient. Separate equipment are required for different sys tems and also for different stages.
A. For deep litter system:
1. Brooders ( Fostermothers)
Brooders with thermostat fittings for automatic temperature control is most effective. Brooders made of GI shed or wood, fitted with electric bulbs are quite sufficient. Where there is no electricity, ordinary bamboo baskets with hurricane lamp can be used for small batches of chicks ( 50 to 100 chicks ).
Brooders with thermostat fittings for automatic temperature control is most effective. Brooders made of GI shed or wood, fitted with electric bulbs are quite sufficient. Where there is no electricity, ordinary bamboo baskets with hurricane lamp can be used for small batches of chicks ( 50 to 100 chicks ).
2. Chick guards:
About 40-45 cm. high card board or plywood guards around the brooder, about 60 to 90 cm. away from the edge of the brooder is to be placed to avoid the chicks to stay away from the source of heat.
3. Feeders:
(a) Chick feeders: Chick feeders are generally linear type, made of GI sheet with a lip of about 1 cm. to avoid feed wastage. The top must be protected by iron grill to avoid the chicks entering feeder and spoiling the feed (anti-roosting device)
(b) Grower and layer feeder:
This can be either linear type or round type. Anti-roosting device and a lip (1.5 - 2 cm) is required to avoid feed wastage.
4. Waterers:
(a) For Chicks: For chicks, automatic fountain type of waterer made of plastic, aluminium or earthern-vase is commonly used. Fountain type waterer consists of a shallow plate and small pot with a hole at the neck about 2 cm. from the mouth so that the level of water is always maintained at 2cm. Hence there is no chance of chicks getting drenched.
(b) Growers and layers: Waterers for growers and layers can be trough type protected with grills or running water channel.
5. Laying nest :
Laying nest at the rate of one nest for every five hens should be provided for production of clean eggs and to avoid breakage of eggs. Usually community nests are used. They are 60 cm. wide and 1.25 to 3.65 m. long with 20 cm. opening. The nest should be dark inside, easy to clean, easy for birds to enter, easy for collection of eggs, should have clean litter material inside and be easy to close during night.
B. For cage system: Feeders, waterers etc. are fitted to the cages and therefore cages of different size for different stages of birds with all fittings are the equipment for cage system.
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