Floor-based poultry housing: a traditional system with new approaches

Floor housing remains one of the most common poultry rearing systems in Ukraine: broilers, turkeys, ducks and young poultry of various breeds. The system involves placing poultry on deep litter or a mesh floor without limiting the space with cages. 

The advantages include lower stress levels in the livestock, more natural poultry behavior, ease of care and the ability to keep large groups without separation. At the same time, floor rearing requires stricter control of the microclimate, litter quality and ventilation.

According to recent observations, in farms where automated watering, microclimate and manure removal systems have been implemented, the efficiency of floor housing is increasing and sanitary conditions are improving.

Experts note that the key conditions for the successful operation of this system are regular replacement or treatment of litter, proper adjustment of ventilation flows and control of planting density.

Despite the proliferation of cage and free-range systems, floor housing remains the optimal choice for many broiler producers, thanks to the balance between costs, technological flexibility and maintaining productivity. 

16/04/2025