Required space for poultry production (Poultry Business Plan)
This is the most important basic principle in housing, as the space available determines the number and type of poultry that can be kept. For example, a deep litter house measuring 6 m by 11 m can hold 200 laying hens at a stock density of 3 birds/m2 (3.6 ft2/bird). Under the older system of measuring, stock density was measured in ft2 per bird, which is the inverse of birds per m2 used in the metric system, incorporating a conversion factor of 0.0929 m2/ft2 (for details, see the appendix entitled Abbreviations and Conversions). Linear space or length of perch per bird is measured in centimeters. The recommended floor and perching space for the three main types of chicken is shown in Table 4.1.