Site Selection
- Site selection is an important task in starting broiler farming, but unfortunately, we do not have much control over it.
- It is because we have to start farming on the land which is available to us.
- In short, we have to make that land suitable for our requirements.
- Some basic points should always consider before making any decision
- Land should have good road connectivity
- There must not be any water logging issues and must have elevated land
- It should be safe from predators & stray animals, it must have good fencing
- Ground water must be clean and clear, both bacteriological & chemical
- Should not have water bodies around the farm, it attracts the water birds which carry bird flu, ND and other diseases
- Must have expansion provision in future
- Availability of electricity (presence of electric poles/ provision of meter etc)
- Presence of electricity (after assessing this, you should take the decision of purchasing generators or solar panels as per the need)
- Consider other farms in the surroundings which may be a potential source of diseases
- Surrounding trees may have both positive and negative effects
Shed construction
- After site selection, the next step is shed construction. While constructing it you must need to remember some basic points.
- Ventilation and microclimate control are very important points.
- Sheds are of 2 types (1) open-type sheds in which environmental factors are not easy to control (2) closed sheds which are also known as environment-control sheds.
- In India, more than 90% of the sheds are small open-type sheds in which 1000 to 10000 birds are kept
- In open-type sheds, only natural ventilation occurs, for the width of the farm should not be very large. The optimum width of the farm should be between 24ft to 28ft.
- Durable, high-strength farms gave higher returns than low-cost kaccha farms.
- The height of the side wall would be around 1 to 1.5ft from the ground and after that galvanized wire net should be erected.
- While making the side wall, keep in mind that the wall should be under the ground at least 2 feet and filled with RCC so that burrowing vermins like mongoose, rats or other animals may not dig it and enter the farm.
- Similarly, the strength of the wire net must also be considered while putting it above the wall.
- Pillars can be made of RCC or Iron. Iron pillars are easy to disinfect but they need more care because if they are not well painted they can be rusted during farm cleaning (fogging and fumigation). RCC/Brick/Soil can harbour deadly IB, gumboro and other viruses for long periods.
- The ends of the farm are made up of brick completely
- The roof of the farm should be made of asbestos, iron or plastic must not be used.
- For a durable roof, an iron truss should be made.
- The farm should be oriented in an east-west direction because it allows sunlight in winter and shade in summer.
- If your budget allows then you can make RCC or brick (pucca) flooring, it is easy to clean and disinfect. Coccidiosis and other gut problems would be less on the farm.
- The Pucca floor is also good as it cannot be breached by vermin (like mongooses and rats).
- Otherwise, you can keep it kaccha like many other farms but that has its own problems as discussed above.
- Roofs can be painted black from the inside and white from the outside, having benefits in hot humid climates.
- Outside & inside of farm proper provision of water tanks should be made. Outside tanks must not be placed in direct sunlight. Because if the water temperature exceeds 22-250C then water intake declines, especially in summer.
- A small water tank inside the farm is good to keep for medication purposes.
- Curtains have a very important role in controlling the microenvironment in farms. Good quality, mechanically controlled curtains should be placed on the outer side walls. In manual curtains, labour always remains reluctant while handling manual curtains.
- Surrounding farms should not have high grasses or other vegetation, which may become shelters for vermins, that cause physical harm as well as carrier of the disease.
- Other animals like desi chicken, pigeons, dogs, cattle or goats should not be kept in same premises.
- Litter disposal should not be done near the farm
- Do not keep other aged birds on the same premises, this is a very deadly decision in long term. Those farm runs well in the start but closed down in future or give high losses very frequently.
- Distance between 2 farms should keep at least twice the width of the farm, but keep it as large as possible.
- Some farmers kept feed on the farm which is not good practice, keep feed in proper stores away from the farm and also imply proper pest control program.
- Feed mills should also install away from the farm
