(a) Reasons for good housing in poultry management are: (i) protection of birds against adverse weather condition (ii) protection of birds against disease attack. (iii) It assist in keeping birds in age groups for proper management. (iv) for protection of birds from thieves. (v) It protect birds from attack by wild animals and dangerous reptiles like snake and hawks (Pests attack). (vi) it enhances maximum productivity in birds. (vii) It increases the efficiency of feeds and feed utilization. (viii) facilitates management and veterinary care.
(b) Features of a poultry deep litter house are.
(i) the floor of the house is made of concrete.
(ii) walls are made of sandcrete /mud or zinc/ wood and usually about cm - 90 cm high.
(iii) roof is made of asbestos sheets, corrugated iron sheets or thatched.
(iv) space between walls and roof is covered with wire-nettings for good ventilation.
(v) the floor is uniformly covered with woodshavings to serve as litter for absorbing poultry droppings.
(vi) poultry equipment such as feeding and drinking troughs are placed convenient places inside the pen.
(vii) such equipment may be placed on the floor for the young chicks on raised platforms or of hung from the roofs for the older birds.
(viii) The number of birds housed depends on the size of the house and the age of birds, usually three adult birds to 1m² of floor space.
(ix) direction of wind and sunshine normally considered when siting the deep-litter house for illumination (East-West direction).
(x) disinfectant bath,or foot dips are usually provided at the entrance of the house to prevent introduction of disease pathogens by visitors.
(xi) litter is normally changed periodically as occasions demand to prevent disease build-up.
(xii) It may be partitioned in pens to house different age groups for convenience of management and avoidance of disease spread.
(xiii) adequate provision of laying nest.
(xiv) provision of gutter with insecticide-treated water around the house to prevent the attack of soldier ants.