From zero to launch: how to create an effective floor rearing system on a farm

Today, floor rearing is probably the most common method of poultry farming. How can you ensure that broilers grow quickly and healthily without wasting feed and water? In this article, we will take a step-by-step look at how a modern broiler rearing system is created.

What is floor rearing of broilers

Floor rearing is a new method in which poultry is kept on the floor of the poultry house without the use of cages. They move freely and are active, which directly affects their growth rate and weight gain.

In the poultry house, it is very important to plan the feeding, watering and resting areas correctly. What does this mean? Feeders for broilers should be positioned so that all birds have access to food. Waterers should be installed evenly throughout the room.

Floor housing is suitable for farms of any size: from small farms to industrial complexes with large numbers of birds. Among the advantages are:

• efficient use of space: this allows more birds to be housed without overloading the poultry house;
• easy to maintain;
• the possibility of integrating microclimate systems and sensors to monitor the condition of the birds;
• good weight gain in comfortable conditions.

According to the engineers at VADA, floor housing is not just about rooms with feeders and drinkers. It is a complex system where every detail is important: from lighting to ventilation.

The main stages of installing floor housing for broilers

Installing floor housing is a multi-stage process that will fail without a professional approach. VADA has been installing equipment in poultry houses and livestock farms for many years, so it has a lot of experience to share.

1. Preparing the premises. First of all, pay attention to the condition of the floor and walls: they must be even, without cracks, and have the correct slope for drainage. It is good if the walls and floor are insulated – this will retain heat and maintain a stable temperature. Be sure to check that water and electricity are connected, as well as access to ventilation ducts. ‘Such an “audit” of the premises makes it possible to avoid unforeseen costs at the start-up stage,’ says Oleksandr Zhilinsky, an engineer at VADA.
2. Installation of electrical wiring for lighting, ventilation, watering, feeding and automation systems. Cables are laid so that they are easily accessible for repair or modernisation if necessary.
3. Installation of watering and feeding systems. It is important to ensure that the drinkers and feeders for broilers are evenly spaced so that each bird has unhindered access to water and food.
4. Lighting affects not only the activity of the birds, but also their appetite and weight gain. Nowadays, this should not be a problem, as modern LED systems or special lamps for poultry farming are designed with the specific characteristics of broiler rearing in mind: avoiding shadows and light imbalance.
5. Microclimate control (ventilation, heating and humidification): it is important that the temperature, humidity and air exchange are at the optimal level for each age of the birds. The ventilation system is an important component of the microclimate.
6. Use of sensors that monitor all vital parameters in the poultry house. This data is transmitted to a centralised control unit, allowing for a quick response in case of any deviation from the norm.
7. Start-up and configuration – the final stage after installation. The operation of ventilation, lighting, watering and feeding is checked. Engineers configure the automation.

Errors during installation

The human factor is always present. But in poultry and livestock farming, even minor mistakes can be very costly. VADA specialists identify several typical mistakes that cause farms to lose profits.

1. Incorrectly selected equipment — feeders or drinkers — often leads to feed wastage, water contamination and uneven access to resources for animals. As a result, part of the livestock does not receive the necessary amount of nutrients, the average daily gain decreases, and the farm spends more than necessary. If the equipment is not suitable for the size or age of the birds, this can also cause stress, competition and injury, as well as additional costs for repair or replacement. When choosing drinkers for broilers, be sure to take these factors into account.
2. Uneven lighting in the room reduces the activity of the birds.
3. Access to water: if the birds compete for water, they will feel aggression, experience stress, and their growth will slow down rather than increase.
4. Improper air circulation increases humidity and causes disease in birds. The microclimate system must work like clockwork.
5. Poor-quality poultry equipment and components, cheap analogues, lead to rapid failure.
6. Neglecting automation also has its consequences, as manual control of a large poultry house almost always leads to losses.

How do VADA engineers solve these problems? First of all, at the equipment installation design stage, they analyse what is best to do and how to do it, taking into account the specific premises and their characteristics. Incidentally, the company's specialists are well versed in the technical aspects of this issue, as they understand the specifics of poultry and animal husbandry. They carry out proper zoning, select equipment for broilers for a specific number of birds, and integrate automation systems.

You can read more about the installation of floor-based broiler housing in the section ‘Our projects’.

Floor-based poultry housing project in action: what we did and how

Let's take a virtual tour of the Karidia LLC farm. The VADA team installed equipment for floor rearing of poultry on an area of 1200 m². What was done?

• We prepared the premises – levelled the floor and insulated the walls.
• We laid electrical and ventilation ducts.
• We installed ‘feeders’ for broilers and drinkers.
• We laid lighting and ventilation systems.
• We installed and integrated sensors for poultry farming and microclimate.
• We performed final testing and started up all the equipment.

And voilà – the farm is ready to go. As a result, we have uniform access to food and water for the birds, an optimal microclimate in the room, savings on electricity and feed costs, and good health for the birds.

Was it easy? Yes, because we know all the pitfalls and where to focus our attention.

So if you are planning to install floor-reared broilers, trust VADA! We will select the best equipment for your farm, install it with high quality and integrity, and you will end up with an efficient farm with our comprehensive support.

03/12/2025