| Information sheets | | | Elsenburg infopaks | | | Animals, management: 11 |
Fryer coop for small farmers
Afrikaans | Xhosa
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The layout of the unit comprises a run of about 50
m2 with an adjoining store-room and/or feed room. The fryers are accommodated in the coop from day-old until they are marketed.
The simple construction consists of an inexpensive iron roof supported by creosote poles. The coop part is partially enclosed with cement blocks. The store-room is completely enclosed with a window to the outside as well as one for observation of the run. The entire building is supplied with a cement floor which is well finished to facilitate proper cleaning. |
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The orientation of the coop is important for proper ventilation during the hot season, as well as for shelter during the cold, wet season. The orientation is determined by the prevailing directions of wind and rain, and these elements are regulated by means of roller blinds. |
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The coop is equipped with two feeding troughs to accommodate both small and larger chickens, and water troughs that are suitable for all chickens. Various types of troughs are available, and care must be taken that the number of troughs bought is appropriate to the specific number of chickens kept. In addition a gas heater is supplied which provides heating for up to 600 small chickens. |
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By using gas, dependence on electricity is avoided, and in the long run gas is also cheaper. Clean running water must be available at all times.
In order to ensure maximum production and minimum mortality it is important that the unit should be managed properly. |
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The day-old chicks are initially confined to the area surrounding the heater, and this is gradually extended until finally the entire coop is used. |
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Feeding troughs and water troughs must be cleaned
daily. Clean drinking water must always be available. Dirt and other waste must be removed regularly from the feeding troughs.
Chickens that are ill must be handled separately and dead birds must be removed at once. On no account are chickens of different ages to be kept in the same coop. After a population has been marketed at about seven weeks, the coop is cleaned and sterilised and kept unoccupied for at least a week, after which a new batch of chickens is admitted. In order to ensure optimum hygiene, access to the coop is confined to the handler. Twelve fryers may be kept per square metre of floor space. Under proper management it is therefore possible for a coop of this kind to produce 600 chickens every two months. |
S Rautenbach
ELSENBURG / PORT ELIZABETH
Agricultural Engineering
