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Chickenology: Poultry Rearing Systems Defined
Free-Range Extensive Systems
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, 80 percent of farmers keep poultry in the first two extensive
systems. Under free-range conditions, the birds are not confined and can scavenge for food over
a wide area. Rudimentary shelters may be provided, and these may or may not be used. The
birds may roost outside, usually in trees, and nest in the bush. The flock contains birds of
different species and varying ages.
Backyard Extensive Systems
Poultry are housed at night but allowed free-range during the day. They are usually fed a
handful of grain in the morning and evening to supplement scavenging.
Semi-Intensive Systems
These are a combination of the extensive and intensive systems where birds are confined to a
certain area with access to shelter. They are commonly found in urban and peri-urban as well as
rural situations. In the “run” system, the birds are confined in an enclosed area outside during
the day and housed at night. Feed and water are available in the house to avoid wastage by rain,
wind and wild animals.
In the European system of free-range poultry keeping, there are two other types of housing.
The first of these is the “ark” system, where the poultry are confined overnight (for security
against predators) in a building mounted on two rails or skids (usually wooden), which enable it
to be moved from place to place with draught power. A typical size is 2 × 2.5 m to hold about
40 birds.
The second type of housing is the “fold” unit, with a space allowance (stock density) for
adult birds of typically 3 to 4 birds per square metre (birds/m2), both inside and (at least this)
outside. The fold unit is usually small enough to be moved by one person. Neither of these two
systems is commonly found in developing countries.
Intensive Systems
These systems are used by medium to large-scale commercial enterprises, and are also used at
the household level. Birds are fully confined either in houses or cages. Capital outlay is higher
and the birds are totally dependent on their owners for all their requirements; production
however is higher. There are three types of intensive systems:
Deep litter system: birds are fully confined (with floor space allowance of 3 to 4 birds/m2
within a house, but can move around freely. The floor is covered with a deep litter (a 5 to
10 cm deep layer) of grain husks (maize or rice), straw, wood shavings or a similarly
absorbent (but non-toxic) material. The fully enclosed system protects the birds from thieves
and predators and is suitable for specially selected commercial breeds of egg or meatproducing
poultry (layers, breeder flocks and broilers).
Slatted floor system: wire or wooden slatted floors are used instead of deep litter, which
allow stocking rates to be increased to five birds/m2 of floor space. Birds have reduced
contact with faeces and are allowed some freedom of movement.
Battery cage system: this is usually used for laying birds, which are kept throughout their
productive life in cages. There is a high initial capital investment, and the system is mostly
confined to large-scale commercial egg layer operations.
Intensive systems of rearing indigenous chickens commercially is uncommon, a notable rare
exception being in Malaysia, where the industry developed in response to the heavy demand for
indigenous chickens in urban areas (Supramaniam, 1988). However, this accounts for only two
in every 100 000 (0.002 percent) of that country’s indigenous chicken.
Sourced from the "Small-Scale Poultry Production" Technical Guide
Free-Range Extensive Systems
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, 80 percent of farmers keep poultry in the first two extensive
systems. Under free-range conditions, the birds are not confined and can scavenge for food over
a wide area. Rudimentary shelters may be provided, and these may or may not be used. The
birds may roost outside, usually in trees, and nest in the bush. The flock contains birds of
different species and varying ages.
Backyard Extensive Systems
Poultry are housed at night but allowed free-range during the day. They are usually fed a
handful of grain in the morning and evening to supplement scavenging.
Semi-Intensive Systems
These are a combination of the extensive and intensive systems where birds are confined to a
certain area with access to shelter. They are commonly found in urban and peri-urban as well as
rural situations. In the “run” system, the birds are confined in an enclosed area outside during
the day and housed at night. Feed and water are available in the house to avoid wastage by rain,
wind and wild animals.
In the European system of free-range poultry keeping, there are two other types of housing.
The first of these is the “ark” system, where the poultry are confined overnight (for security
against predators) in a building mounted on two rails or skids (usually wooden), which enable it
to be moved from place to place with draught power. A typical size is 2 × 2.5 m to hold about
40 birds.
The second type of housing is the “fold” unit, with a space allowance (stock density) for
adult birds of typically 3 to 4 birds per square metre (birds/m2), both inside and (at least this)
outside. The fold unit is usually small enough to be moved by one person. Neither of these two
systems is commonly found in developing countries.
Intensive Systems
These systems are used by medium to large-scale commercial enterprises, and are also used at
the household level. Birds are fully confined either in houses or cages. Capital outlay is higher
and the birds are totally dependent on their owners for all their requirements; production
however is higher. There are three types of intensive systems:
Deep litter system: birds are fully confined (with floor space allowance of 3 to 4 birds/m2
within a house, but can move around freely. The floor is covered with a deep litter (a 5 to
10 cm deep layer) of grain husks (maize or rice), straw, wood shavings or a similarly
absorbent (but non-toxic) material. The fully enclosed system protects the birds from thieves
and predators and is suitable for specially selected commercial breeds of egg or meatproducing
poultry (layers, breeder flocks and broilers).
Slatted floor system: wire or wooden slatted floors are used instead of deep litter, which
allow stocking rates to be increased to five birds/m2 of floor space. Birds have reduced
contact with faeces and are allowed some freedom of movement.
Battery cage system: this is usually used for laying birds, which are kept throughout their
productive life in cages. There is a high initial capital investment, and the system is mostly
confined to large-scale commercial egg layer operations.
Intensive systems of rearing indigenous chickens commercially is uncommon, a notable rare
exception being in Malaysia, where the industry developed in response to the heavy demand for
indigenous chickens in urban areas (Supramaniam, 1988). However, this accounts for only two
in every 100 000 (0.002 percent) of that country’s indigenous chicken.
Sourced from the "Small-Scale Poultry Production" Technical Guide
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