Modern Broiler Farming: 4 Benefits and Drawbacks
Discover the benefits of modern broiler farming, from closed house protection and cleaner air to healthier chicks, plus its key drawbacks for farmers.
Broiler chicken farming is now highly profitable, since many people need chicken for home cooking or for special events. Farmers can raise their yields by adopting modern systems. These systems are more advanced than conventional chicken farming.
One way to run a modern broiler operation is the closed house system. A closed house is a fully enclosed poultry coop. This differs from today's common setups, where the coop is open in certain areas. Here are the benefits of modern broiler farming worth considering:
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Safe During the Rainy Season
The first benefit of modern broiler farming is safety during the rainy season. A closed house keeps chickens safer inside the coop, especially when the weather is unpredictable, as it has been lately. The system helps chickens withstand both rain and heat. Rainy seasons are a major concern for farmers because diseases spread widely during this time, making chickens highly vulnerable to illness. Once a disease takes hold, it spreads quickly. A closed house helps farmers prevent these outbreaks.
Also read: 5 Benefits and Drawbacks of Raising Laying Hens Without a Coop
Healthier Air
Air quality is a key factor in the success of broiler farming. An open house, where the coop is not fully enclosed, lets in a large amount of outside air. This is not good for the health of the chickens inside, as it can cause bloating. A closed house, by contrast, has only a few ventilation points, so the incoming air is not excessive the way it is in an open coop. The system also lets carbon dioxide exit the coop properly. When carbon dioxide builds up, chickens lose their appetite and become weak from a lack of oxygen.
Healthier Day-Old Chicks
Modern broiler farming also helps protect DOC (day-old chicks). Success in chicken farming depends largely on how farmers care for their DOC. With closed house techniques, DOC are shielded from hot weather and rain. At night, DOC stay warmer and safer because they are not housed in an open coop, where cold or hot air can move freely.
More Efficient
An enclosed coop is more efficient than an open one. Farmers with closed coops can monitor their chickens more easily. The results they get are also more effective and maximized compared to open house systems.
Drawbacks of Modern Techniques
Every benefit has its trade-offs. Advantages and disadvantages are two sides of the same coin. The main drawbacks of modern techniques are higher costs than open house systems. In addition, electricity costs for a closed house are quite high, since a closed house requires a substantial amount of power.
Like open house systems, modern closed house farming demands strong technical skill and knowledge. Farmers need broad expertise for their modern system to meet their expectations. If the technique is not right and the knowledge is limited, the results of modern broiler farming will fall short.
