Requirements for the arrangement of poultry houses for keeping guinea fowl

Abstract

This article discloses the requirements for the installation of poultry houses and indoor equipment for keeping guinea fowl. In the construction of poultry houses it is necessary to take into account the behavioral and physiological characteristics of guinea fowl on which their growth and development, productivity, feed consumption and disease resistance. For construction of a poultry house choose the elevated site or with a small slope that thaws and rain waters did not collect and did not stagnate. The size of the poultry house depends on the number of livestock in it, so it is recommended to place up to 5 heads per 1 m2 of floor area. The roof of the poultry house is made sloping. Litter is used in the premises for keeping guinea fowl: peat, straw, sawdust, litter thickness –10-15 cm. During the whole winter period the litter is not removed, only fresh is added regularly. If the litter is heavily soiled, the contaminated part is removed and a clean one is added. For winter keeping of guinea fowl the room is well warmed, without allowing in it humidity and formation of a mold. When keeping guinea fowl in the summer, it is recommended to equip them with a walking yard, fenced with wire mesh, around which bushes and trees are planted or canopies are made to protect the bird from direct sunlight. In winter, an artificial heat source is installed in the poultry house, for example, electric brooders, electric lamps with a metal shade-reflector located at a height of 15-20 cm from the floor. Seats for guinea fowl are made of chipped bars with rounded upper edges, which are installed on the opposite side of the windows in a horizontal form. Nests are set in the henhouse long before the laying hens begin to lay eggs, so that the guinea fowl have time to get used to them and lay eggs in the nests. Feeders are made like troughs, which prevents contamination and scattering of food. A turntable is mounted on the brackets on top of the feeder, it rotates around its axis and also prevents the feed from scattering. At the height of the feeder is made so that the edges of the sides were at the level of the back of the bird. It is better to use vacuum or nipple drinkers to water the guinea fowl, which provide them with fresh running water.