Poultry Farm Equipments PDF

PRATICAL NO-10 POULTRY FARM EQUIPMENTS Objective To understand the role of different equipments used in Poultry unit.  Brooding Equipments Equipment used to provide warmth and light and to rear the baby chicks during the first few weeks of life are called brooders. Th...

PRATICAL NO-10 POULTRY FARM EQUIPMENTS Objective To understand the role of different equipments used in Poultry unit.  Brooding Equipments Equipment used to provide warmth and light and to rear the baby chicks during the first few weeks of life are called brooders. The brooders consist of some heating source, reflectors to reflect the heat and light towards the chicks, light and heat adjustment devices such as stands, thermostats and other accessories, depending on the model. Different equipments used for brooding are:  Reflector (Hover) These are reflectors of heat and light Flat type hovers These are flat in nature in which electrical bulbs are fitted. Generally they are mounted with stands on all four corners, instead of hanging from the roof. Canopy type hovers These are circular in nature in which electrical bulbs are fitted. They are hanging from the roof.  Heating Source (Brooder) Electric Brooder This type of brooder is provided with heating elements and pilot lamps and in some cases thermometer is provided to record the temperature. They used to have a reflecting device over the heating rods or coils. The temperature can be adjusted depending on the requirement. Electric Brooder  Gas brooder In this heating element is connected with natural gas. They are usually hanged 3-5’ above the chick level to provide heat. It is attached with canopy type reflectors to reflect the heat towards the chicks.  Infra-Red bulbs / self-reflecting bulbs In general, IR bulbs are self reflecting bulbs and hence no need of reflector over the bulbs. 150 and 250 watt bulbs are available to provide sufficient heat to 150 and 250 chicks, respectively.  Charcoal or kerosene stove These are used in places where electricity is not available or costly and where power failure is quite common. These stoves are covered with plates or pans to sustain the heat in the brooding area.  Brooder Guard (Chick Guard) These are thin sheets of metal, hard board, or bamboo mat of 1 to 1.5 feet height and varying in lengths. They are used to restrict the movement of chicks, so that the chicks will be kept closer to the brooders and prevent them from chilling. Brooder Guard (Chick Guard)  FEEDING EQUIPMENTS Feeders are equipment used to feed the birds, by placing feed in them. They may be conventional, semi-automatic of various designs and shapes and made up of either metal or plastic. Different feeding equipment are,  Automatic feeder In case of automatic feeder the feed is supplied to the entire length of the poultry house by specially designed feed troughs with auger type or chain type devices to move the feed from the feed bins to the other end. These are operated with electricity and the height of the feeder can be adjusted depending upon the age of the birds. Automatic feeder Automatic pan feeding system with feed storage silo 15  Linear feeder Different sizes of linear feeder with guards are available. Provision is also made to adjust the height of the feeder.  Circular feeder These are semi-automatic feeders and can hold 5 to 7 kg feed in its cone at a time. The feed is slowly delivered to the bottom by gravity. It can also be attached with feed grills to prevent wastage.  Shell grit box It is used to provide shell grit to the layer birds as a supplemental source of calcium  WATERING EQUIPMENTS Waterers or drinkers are used to provide water to the birds. Like feeders, waterers are available in different sizes, design and shape.  Watering devices I. Fountain waterer II. Trough waterer III. Channel waterer 20  Pan and Jar type This type of waterer is circular in nature, having two compartments i.e. jar for filling water and pan for delivering water. Linear waterer / Channel type waterers This type waterer is usually attached with cages for providing continuous water supply. One end of channel type waterer is designed as funnel shape to receive water from a tap and the other end has the provision for draining the excess water.  Plastic basin with grill Basins of different diameters are available (10”, 12”, 14” and 16” diameter). A separate grill is available to prevent the entry of birds inside the water Bell type automatic waterer This type of waterers has control over the water flow and maintains the required water level always Nipple drinker It can be used both in deep-litter and in cage system. When used in deep-litter system, it is attached with cup under the nipple to prevent wetting of litter material.  VACCINATION EQUIPMENTS Syringe with needle/vaccine droppers It is used to give vaccine drops through intra-nasal or intra- ocular Automatic vaccinator It is used to inject different doses of vaccine to large number of birds in shorter period either through intra- muscular or subcutaneous route. Fowl pox vaccinator/lancet These are used to give fowl pox vaccine at intra-dermal route in the wing web region  For vaccination Automatic vaccinator In ovo vaccinator  MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENTS Beak trimmer It is an electrical device used to cut a portion of beak in order to prevent cannibalism among birds.  Nest boxes These are used to get clean eggs and to avoid floor eggs in layer or breeder houses. These may be individual, communal or trap nest.  Weighing balances Different types of weighing balances are available to weigh birds or feed for record and marketing purposes.  Perches / Roost This is a wooden device usually kept at a height of about 3-5’ from the floor in order to help the bird to stand over it.  Rake It is made up of iron rods and fitted with wooden handle. This is used to rake the litter material in case of deep-litter system of rearing.