Creating a favorable climate in the chicken coop significantly affects the increase in laying hens, and also has a positive effect on the he alth of feathered pets. It is the device of high-quality ventilation in the room where the chickens are located that is an effective measure to maintain fresh air, which provides comfortable living conditions for the bird. This is especially true in winter, when simply opening the door for ventilation is dangerous by lowering the temperature in the chicken coop.
Therefore, the question of how to make ventilation in a chicken coop and what is the principle of its arrangement and installation worries not only beginner poultry farmers, but also experienced farmers.
Key microclimate indicators
Before making ventilation in the chicken coop, every poultry farmer should carefully study the main qualitative characteristics of the state of the air environment, which have a beneficial effect on the he alth and performance of chickens.
To such characteristics of a comfortable microclimateinclude:
- humidity level in the room should be about 65-75%;
- for adults, the temperature in the chicken coop in winter should be +16 ° С;
- comfortable temperature for keeping young animals +28 °С;
- in summer, the air flow should have a speed of up to 0.8 m/s, in winter - 0.5 m/s.
The performance of proper ventilation in the chicken coop is calculated depending on the number of birds. For every five hens, you need to allocate 1 m2 of free space.
Assignment of ventilation in summer
The main functions of any ventilation system, regardless of the season, are:
- effective elimination of dampness and moisture in the chicken coop;
- removal of harmful ammonia fumes;
- maintaining a favorable microclimate in the barn;
- eliminate bad smell.
The presence of drinkers, bedding and manure in the chicken coop creates high humidity in the room, which negatively affects the condition of the birds. Chicken manure contains in its composition a large amount of urea, which, decomposing, releases aggressive caustic ammonia. Vapors of this substance have a harmful effect on human he alth, and also significantly reduce the productivity of laying hens.
Birds are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, as the body temperature of he althy individuals is 40.5–42 °C. Moreover, a change in this indicator is harmful both upward and downward.
Lack of do-it-yourself ventilation in the chicken coop in a hot sunny summerleads to the following consequences for feathered pets:
- significant reduction in appetite;
- weakness and weight loss, and consequently, a decrease in egg production;
- weakening resistance to various diseases;
- formation of dampness and bad smell in the chicken coop.
Establishing an efficient ventilation system is essential to the he alth and productivity of chickens.
Need for ventilation in wintertime
Ventilation in the chicken coop in winter is of no small importance to provide fresh air to the layers. In cold weather, the birds are almost the entire period indoors, since there is no opportunity to take walks outside in winter. That is why it is necessary to take care of creating effective ventilation in the chicken coop with your own hands.
Natural ventilation of the barn through an open door is not recommended, as cold air currents lead to a rapid decrease in the temperature in the room. Lowering the temperature can significantly increase the risk of disease in feathered pets. Yes, and reheating the chicken coop is not economically viable.
Basic requirements for a chicken coop
To properly ventilate the chicken coop, you need to study the basic requirements that apply to the room for the normal life of the bird.
These requirements include:
- regular cleaning of the premises, which includes the removal of debris, droppings, as well as leftover feed mixtures;
- scheduledpreventive measures for the extermination of harmful rodents;
- mandatory provision of premises with lighting;
- possibility of oxygen supply without drafts.
It is not difficult to test the installed ventilation in the chicken coop with your own hands. For these purposes, you need to stay in the room for about 30 minutes. If there is a lack of fresh air, then there are problems with the quality of ventilation. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate some of the shortcomings of the system.
Types of ventilation
If we compare the photo of ventilation in the chicken coop, it is noticeable that such systems are no different from similar equipment in other rooms. The calculation of ventilation performance and installation of the device are based on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room used and the number of birds in the hen house.
There are three main types of ventilation:
- air exchange naturally;
- supply and exhaust ventilation system;
- mechanical ventilation.
The first two types are based on the natural movement of air currents. But mechanical ventilation involves the use of electric fans to exchange air in the chicken coop.
Natural ventilation
This method of ventilation is the simplest, and therefore the most common, in small poultry houses. Natural air exchange is based on simple ventilation of the room. Therefore, it is enough just to open the doors and windows.
Make ventilation inchicken coop in the form of simple ventilation is easy, but some of the nuances of this process must be taken into account. Since chickens are very afraid of drafts, it is advisable to place air exhaust windows above the doorway. In this case, it is better to make several small windows so that the air masses are divided into small streams. A very effective way of gentle ventilation is the arrangement of several vents at different levels.
A very practical solution is to install hood windows under the ceiling. In this case, in addition to fresh air, sunlight will also enter the room, which will eliminate the need to illuminate the chicken coop during the daytime.
You can control the process of ventilation of the room in a natural way by the width of open windows or doors. Such ventilation is used mainly in the summer, as in winter it significantly cools the room.
Advantages and disadvantages of natural ventilation
The main advantages of using natural ventilation can be considered:
ease of installation of the system, as it is very easy to make several small vents, in case of their absence;
Easy operation of ventilation: just leave windows and doors open
Disadvantages include:
- significant influence of weather conditions (temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure);
- possibility of airing only in summer;
- the need for constant monitoring duringoperation.
The use of natural ventilation in small households is almost imperceptible, since, releasing the birds in the summer, the owners leave the doors open, thereby performing preventive ventilation of the room.
supply and exhaust ventilation
The principle of operation of ventilation of a supply and exhaust type room is similar to the operation of natural ventilation. Its functioning is based on the difference in pressure and ambient temperature outside and inside the chicken coop. Unlike natural type ventilation, supply and exhaust ventilation made by hand for the chicken coop in winter is very effective.
The circulation of air flows occurs due to the expulsion of fresh air entering through the supply pipe, exhaust air through the exhaust duct. The main disadvantage of the system is the presence of an element of forced ventilation in the chicken coop. Applying this type of air exchange is very effective in medium sized coops with few birds.
Installation of supply and exhaust ventilation
to make ventilation in the chicken coop with your own hands, you need to purchase sewer pipes with a diameter of 200 mm, as well as brackets for fixing pipes.
The main stages of system installation are as follows:
- Before it is necessary to prepare two holes in the roof, corresponding to the diameter of the pipe. To increase traction, you need to place holes in opposite places of the chicken coop, and the exhaust channel is madeabove the perch.
- The exhaust pipe is installed so that its lower edge is located at a distance of 20 cm from the ceiling. The top edge of the pipe should rise 1.5 meters above the roof. This arrangement contributes to good air draft.
- The supply pipe is fixed in the opposite part of the room. The top of the pipe protrudes 20-30 cm above the roof, while the lower end protrudes about 30 cm from the floor.
- Special deflectors must be put on the protruding ends of the pipes to avoid precipitation and debris.
To adjust the air flow, it is advisable to install dampers in the pipes, the closing of which will increase or decrease the air draft.
Forced ventilation
The principle of operation of forced, or mechanical, ventilation is in many ways similar to the operation of supply and exhaust ventilation. The only difference is that to enhance the air draft, an electric fan is added to the supply or exhaust system. With the addition of a mechanical device to the air exhaust duct, exhaust ventilation in the chicken coop is enhanced. If the fan is installed in the supply system, then the draft of the incoming air flow increases significantly.
The operation of forced ventilation is economically justified in large farms with more than 500 chickens. But many owners install such systems with low-power fans in small poultry houses.
For a person familiar with electrical work,making ventilation in the chicken coop as an automatic forced-type system is not particularly difficult. The installation of special sensors for determining the temperature and humidity of the air allows you to turn on the system without human intervention.
Advantages and disadvantages of forced ventilation
The main advantages of electromechanical ventilation are:
- high performance system that can provide efficient ventilation of large rooms;
- no influence of external climatic factors on good ventilation of the chicken coop;
- the ability of the system to work in automatic mode.
Disadvantages of forced ventilation include:
- comparatively high cost of equipment;
- need to connect to the mains;
- high energy costs;
- connection of additional elements of the system for its efficient operation.
Installation of the mechanical system
Preliminary work on the installation of a ventilation system using an electric fan includes preparing holes for installing supply and exhaust ventilation pipes. Also at this stage, electrical wiring is carried out to connect the fan and automation sensors.
In the future, the installation of mechanical ventilation is carried out according to the following technological scheme:
- Supply and exhaust pipes are being installed. To remove condensate, several holes are drilled in the lower part of the supply pipe.
- Thenthe fan is mounted on the end of the pipe.
- The fan is connected to the mains.
- A switch and automatic control system are installed at a convenient location.
Basic ventilation schemes for large chicken coops
For large farms with a large number of laying hens, the most effective and practical is the use of forced ventilation. Moreover, for such premises, you will have to use several fans that are installed according to a certain scheme, which greatly improves the quality of ventilation of the chicken coop.
There are three main ventilation patterns:
1. In the classical scheme, air is supplied through supply channels equipped on the roof of the building. Exhaust air is extracted through window fans, which are installed on both sides of the room.
2. The tunnel scheme is most effective in chicken coops where the birds are kept in cages. The air flow in such a scheme is carried out from one side of the building, and the fans are driven through the entire room. Exhaust air is removed by exhaust fans located at the other end of the building. This scheme completely protects the chicken coop from stagnant airflow.
3. A mixed ventilation scheme is the most efficient, since air is supplied through the roof and wall of the building, where the entrance is located.a door. Dirty airflow is removed through the remaining three walls of the building.
Remember that high performance of laying hens is achieved by creating a good microclimate in the coop. To achieve high egg production rates, it is necessary to equip the places where the birds are kept with effective ventilation. All types of ventilation of the room are quite simple to do with your own hands, and it does not require large economic costs.
