Poultry Feeding Drinking System Silo Feed Storage Rearing on Floor

Floor-raising chicken coops is a common chicken farming method, particularly suitable for broilers, breeders, and some free-range chickens. Its advantages include ample space for birds to move around and more natural behaviors (such as pacing, dust bathing, and flapping their wings). However, it also places higher demands on the chicken's environmental management and equipment configuration. Qingdao Puhui Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd. has specialized in floor-raising chicken coop equipment for 20 years.

I. Overview of Core Equipment for Floor-raising Chicken Coops
A complete floor-raising chicken coop requires the following basic configuration:

Insulation and Ventilation System:

Insulation: Insulation material on the roof and walls, used to keep the chickens warm in winter and in summer.

Ventilation System: This includes side wall air intake windows/roller curtains, roof exhaust fans (blowers), and circulation fans. These systems remove ammonia and moisture, draw in fresh air, and maintain a clean, comfortable air temperature.

Heating Equipment: These include hot air furnaces, fan heaters, and heat lamps, primarily used for heating during the chick-raising period and during winter.

Lighting System: LED lights designed specifically for farming provide energy-saving and uniform light. An automatic timer should be installed to simulate sunrise and sunset, controlling light exposure to encourage feeding and resting.

Bedding Management:

Bedding Material: The most common material is a thick layer of rice husks or sawdust, though chopped straw can also be used. Bedding absorbs moisture and feces, providing a comfortable floor for the chickens.

Post-production Processing: After the chickens are raised, the mixture of bedding and feces can be fermented to produce high-quality organic fertilizer.

II. Key Points: Detailed Explanation of the Feeding System (Feed Line)
There are two main types of feeding systems for floor-raising chicken houses:

1. Automatic Pan Feeding System (Most Common)

This is the current mainstream configuration for floor-raising chickens, especially for broilers, and provides fully automated feeding.

System Components:

Feed Stacker: A large storage facility installed outside the chicken house for storing feed throughout the day.

Galvanized Feed Pipe: The main pipe running through the center of the chicken house, equipped with an auger. We only supply augers imported from South Africa.

Drive Motor: Provides power to rotate the coil spring. One-year warranty.

Feeder Pans: Round feed pans evenly distributed on both sides of the feed pipe, suspended by a hanging system (the height can be adjusted according to the age of the birds).

Feeding Device: The feed pipe delivers feed to the feed opening above each feeder pan, where it falls into the pan by gravity.

Elevator (optional): If the main feed line is too long, an elevator may be required to transport the feed over a longer distance.

Workflow:
The controller activates the motor → the coil spring rotates → feed is pushed from the silo to the entire feed pipe → feed fills the feed opening of each feeder pan in turn and falls into the feeder pan → When the pan is full, a sensor or timer controls the motor to stop.

Advantages:

Automation: Significantly reduces labor costs and ensures timely and quantitative feeding.

Reduced Waste: The feeder pan design (such as the grate) prevents birds from scratching out feed, saving feed.

Uniform Feeding: Ensures that all birds receive fresh feed at the same time and in equal amounts.

Health Benefits: Feed is suspended in the air, preventing contamination by feces and litter.

2. Chain Automatic Feeding System
Working Principle: A chain with a scraper circulates in a long feed trough, carrying feed from the feed box and evenly distributing it throughout the trough.

Floor Housing Application: Less common than tray systems in floor housing, this system is more common in cages or terraced systems. However, it is still used in some small floor chicken houses or in specific areas (such as near perches).

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages: Simple structure and relatively low cost.

Disadvantages: Large exposed feed area, prone to contamination and waste; birds tend to stand on the feed trough to defecate.

III. Key Points: Detailed Explanation of the Drinking System (Water Line)
Floor chicken houses generally use nipple drinking lines, which are the most hygienic and water-saving drinking method.

System Components:

Water Source and Filter: If the water source is connected to the house, a water filter must be installed to remove impurities and prevent nipple clogging.

Pressure regulating valve: A core component. It regulates the water pressure throughout the water line. Excessive pressure can cause birds to choke when pecking; too low pressure prevents water from reaching the nipples. The younger the birds, the lower the required water pressure.

Water pipe: Typically a PVC or stainless steel pipe, it serves as a water supply channel.

Nipple drinker: A key component installed on the water pipe. Birds peck at the nipples, triggering water to drip down. A drip cup is typically located below the nipples to catch any water droplets, keeping the litter dry.

Terminal: Each water line has a transparent elbow at the end for monitoring water flow and flushing.

Height adjustment system: The water line is suspended via a wire rope and pulley, allowing for easy raising and lowering. The principle is that birds should tilt their heads back at approximately a 45-degree angle to easily reach the water. As the birds age, the water line height should be adjusted accordingly.

Workflow:
Clean water source → Filter → Pressure regulating valve (stable pressure) → Main water pipe → Branch water line → Nipple drinker → Chickens peck and drink.

Advantages:

Closed system: Water remains within the pipes, preventing direct contact with air and feces, significantly reducing the risk of disease transmission.

Water-saving: Compared to trough drinkers, this system significantly reduces water consumption and keeps litter dry.

Labor-saving: Automatic water supply eliminates the need for frequent manual refilling and trough cleaning.

Summary and Configuration Recommendations
For a modern flat-lay chicken house, a "pan-type automatic feeder" + a "hanging nipple drinker" is the standard automation combination.

For small, simple chicken houses: This can be simplified, using manually added feed buckets and Prasong automatic drinkers (hanging water trays). However, this system has a low degree of automation, is labor-intensive, and requires high hygiene control.

For medium-sized and larger chicken houses: Investing in the aforementioned automated feed and water lines is highly recommended. Although the initial investment is high, in the long run, it will quickly pay for itself and significantly improve economic returns through labor savings, feed and water conservation, reduced disease rates, and improved breeding efficiency.

During installation, ensure that feed and water lines are arranged alternately to ensure that chickens can access both water and feed within a short distance from any location. Routine maintenance of the equipment, such as regularly flushing water lines, adjusting heights, and checking the proper functioning of nipples and feed pans, is key to ensuring stable system operation.

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