Poultry equipment for successful farming

The size of your farm will determine the amount and type of equipment you need. If you have a very small farm, you may be able to get by with manual equipment. But being successful in modern poultry farming requires automated equipment. Automating a poultry farm can offer several benefits such as increased efficiency, better production, less risks, reduced labour costs, improved animal welfare, and increased profits. By automating certain tasks, you can free up your time to focus on other areas of the farm that require your attention.

Choosing the best poultry farming equipment is an important step in setting up a successful poultry farm. Here are some factors to consider when choosing poultry farming equipment:

Quality
Poultry farming equipment must be durable and able to withstand the harsh conditions of the poultry house. Choose equipment made from high-quality materials that will last a long time. The initial investment may be larger, but the ROI is higher and high-quality equipment can be tuned optimally to your specific situation.
Ease of use
Your equipment should be easy to use and maintain. Make sure that you and your employees are comfortable using the equipment before you make a purchase. The easier to work with the less chance for mistakes and the shorter the training period of new staff.
Safety
Safety is paramount in poultry farming. Choose equipment that is designed with safety in mind and has safety features for both animals and staff such as guards, sensors, and emergency shut offs. Also be aware of the differences in recovery in case of power failures.
Availability of spare parts
It's important to choose equipment that has readily available spare parts. This will make it easier and faster to replace parts when they wear out or break. Also check for what period spare parts will remain available.
Future proof capacity
Bear in mind what your (growth) ambition might mean for your equipment. Over capacity is not required when you choose a solution that is flexible in case your farm grows.
Energy efficiency
Choose equipment that is energy-efficient to save on your energy costs. Check the possibilities for dynamic energy consumption, not just on and off.
Warranty and support
Look for equipment that comes with a warranty and good customer support. This will give you peace of mind and helps you address any issues that may arise.

Overall, take the time to research and compare different brands and models of poultry farming equipment to find the best fit for your farm. Consider the above factors to make an informed decision and invest in equipment that will help you achieve success in your poultry farming business.

Some areas of a poultry farm that can be automated

Feeding

You can use automatic feeding systems to dispense feed to the birds at specific times, reducing the amount of labour required to manually feed the birds. Automated feeding systems give you extremely accurate control of feed rations allowing you to steer towards optimal growth. This saves time and helps you keep the cost price of feed and the production results under control.

Every farm is different, which is why different feeding systems are available:

Feeding system with silo weighing that dispenses large feed rations in a short time.
A silo weighing system ensures accurate control from silo to feeder. As the silo is weighed continuously, you can read out exactly how much feed is left in the silo at all times.
Feeding system with batch weigher that dispenses small feed rations very accurately.
The electronic feed weigher is positioned between the silo and the hoppers in the house and controlled by a computer. This enables highly accurate and controlled dosing of feed rations. The high weigher capacity means feed can be dosed very quickly.

Ventilation

Automated ventilation systems can maintain good air quality inside the poultry house, which is important for the birds' respiratory health. Good air quality is beneficial to the growth and health of your animals and saves you costs for feed, water and energy. A ventilation system for poultry farms typically includes the following elements:

Exhaust fans
These fans extract damaging waste substances such as CO2, NH3, moisture and dust and introduce oxygen rich air, helping to maintain good air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases.

Air inlets
These are openings in the walls or roof of the poultry house that allow fresh air to enter. They can be adjustable to control the amount of air entering the house. A continuous supply of fresh air without any draughts or rapid air flows contributes to the quality of the air at animal level.

Cooling pads
These are wetted pads that are installed on the walls of the poultry house, in front of the air inlet. As air passes through the pads, it is cooled by evaporation, helping to keep the birds comfortable during hot weather.

More information about cooling? Download our white paper 'Efficient cooling improves animal performance'.

Heating system
This can include heaters or brooders to maintain the temperature in the poultry house during cold weather.

Thermostats and sensors
These are used to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors in the poultry house. A good living environment is more than just the right temperature and relative humidity. Excessive carbon dioxide and ammonia concentrations are harmful to humans and animals.

Watering and monitoring
Automatic watering systems can ensure that the birds have access to fresh water at all times, and also reduce labor costs associated with manually watering the birds. The water consumption is one of the simplest, but above all most accurate tools, that a poultry producer can use to monitor the performance of the birds. A sudden deviation in water consumption usually signals that something is wrong

Lighting
Automated lighting systems can help regulate the lighting conditions in the poultry house, which can affect the birds' growth and egg-laying patterns.

For more information about the options for light control, download the free white paper: Better animal performance with flexible light control

Automatic Control System
This can include a computerized control system that manages the ventilation system and ensures that the environment inside the poultry house is optimal for the health and well-being of the birds. The computer offers all the settings necessary to automatically control the processes throughout the rearing cycle, from the first day the animals arrive to the day they leave the farm. Based on pre-set growth curves, the control parameters automatically grow with your animals and adapt to the changing conditions.

Download our whitepaper with six tips that highlight some of the aspects you should consider when deciding to automate the processes in your house. This will help you choosing the right farm computer.

Overall, automating a poultry farm can save time, reduce labour costs, and improve animal welfare, leading to increased productivity and profits.

Alarm
It is vital that any malfunctions on your farm are reported reliably and in time. No matter how well-equipped your houses are, unpredictable situations that cause malfunctions can always occur. This is not necessarily an issue, as long as timely intervention is possible. If you are not alerted to problems, what started as a simple issue could potentially have a disastrous impact on the running of your farm. To prevent the risk of malfunctions not being signalled, instead of physically walk inspection rounds, there is a range of alarm monitoring systems available, please be aware of the differences in redundancy.

Poultry equipment for complete farm control

Complete farm control in poultry refers to a farming approach where every aspect of the poultry production process is closely monitored and managed by the farmer. A single system that gives you complete control of the climate, feed distribution, bird weighing and the behaviour and health of your broilers.

Here are some potential benefits of complete farm control in poultry farming:

Improved quality control
With complete farm control, farmers have full control over the conditions in which the birds are raised, including the feed, water, housing, growth and health management. This level of control can lead to better-quality poultry products, which can translate into higher profits for the farmer.
Better disease management
By implementing strict biosecurity measures, controlling the environment and monitoring the health of the flock, farmers can reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in their poultry flock. This can help to reduce the likelihood of economic losses due to mortality of birds.
Increased efficiency
With complete farm control, farmers can monitor and optimize every aspect of the production process, from egg production to hatching, brooding, growing, and processing. This can lead to higher yields, faster growth rates, and reduced production costs. Objectives are met.
Increased food safety
With complete control over the feed, water, and housing conditions, farmers can ensure that their poultry products meet high standards for food safety. This can help to reduce the risk of foodborne illness and improve consumer confidence in the safety and quality of poultry products.
Improved animal welfare
By controlling the environment and providing high-quality care, farmers can promote the welfare of their poultry flock. This can help to reduce stress and disease in the birds, leading to healthier and happier animals.

Overall, complete farm control in poultry farming can lead to improved product quality, increased efficiency, better disease management, reduced risk of errors, increased food safety, and improved animal welfare. These benefits can help farmers to improve their profitability and sustainability over the long term.

Fancom is the market leader in creating superior conditions in poultry farms. Our smart house technology manages and controls all the processes in the house from a central location. We thorough knowledge of the technology and the processes in the house, based on almost 45 years of experience. We help you improve your operating results. Are you curious how we can help you?

Do you want to use complete farm automation in your business?

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Some areas of a poultry farm that can be automated

Feeding

Ventilation

Poultry equipment for complete farm control

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