Focus - Poultry: Broiler Chicken Production in the U.S.

Assistive Technology Notes: Poultry

Assistive Technologies for Poultry Operations

Poultry growers with disabilities are a growing clientele within the Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project (D-MAP). It is not too surprising since there are more than 2100 poultry growers in the Delmarva area and 1 in every 4 farms in this area raises poultry. Disabilities among this significant farm population in Delaware and Maryland include the following: arthritis, orthopedic conditions, injury, vision and hearing impairments, stroke, respiratory conditions, and other health conditions. The following are technologies and workplace modifications D-MAP commonly recommends for its clients. Although some of the equipment recommended is now standard equipment in newer poultry houses, growers who work in older poultry houses should consider the labor saving value of these technologies.

Mobility Around the Farm

For growers who have mobility or endurance limitations, it may be difficult to check on the flock and remove dead birds to disposal areas. A utility vehicle or modified golf cart can facilitate mobility and also serve to carry cargo.

Some growers may benefit from equipment that reduces the number of trips to their poultry houses by allowing them to monitor environmental conditions from their home. A phone dialing alarm system (fig. 1) ³ is standard equipment in new poultry house construction. Older poultry houses without updated alarm systems may require the grower to make frequent daily trips to inspect houses. These inspections are needed to guard against serious equipment malfunctions that could be costly and/or cause catastrophic bird loss. Installation of a phone dialing alarm system would reduce the number of trips made by the grower to check on the houses.

A color photo of a phone alarm system.
Figure 1: A typical phone alarm system allows growers to remotely monitor house conditions.

Electronic devices to monitor temperature, power outages, and malfunctions in the water and feed systems are becoming standard equipment for many growers. Manufacturers of these devices have realized the advantages of convenient remote control and have produced communications software that will allow growers to access their controllers as if they were there in the poultry house.

In-House Mobility

Growers must walk around their houses several times a day to remove dead birds and check the birds and equipment. Crossing over equipment is one task that some growers may need assistance with inside a poultry house.

Migration fences are used to keep poultry properly distributed and are especially important in tunnel ventilated housing. These fences are often too high for growers to step over easily or contain only a gate in the center of the house to walk through. An adaptation for growers with mobility issues may be to use an 8 in. diameter plastic drain piping as a migration fence. Often this is easier for a grower to traverse than a higher fence (fig. 2). ³ In some cases, simple hand grips and grab bars at key locations provide growers a support aid they need to climb over low migration fences.

A color photo of 8 in. diameter drain tubing being used as a migration fence to separate chickens with the chicken house.
Figure 2: 8 in. diameter drain tubing used as a migration fence separate the birds within the chicken house.

Another potential obstacle to in-house mobility is drinker lines. In many poultry houses that are 400 or 500 ft long, it is common to find drinker lines that are 200 ft long. Stepping over the 12 in. high drinker lines can be very difficult, especially when the grower needs to remove large dead birds. Breaking long drinker lines into shorter sections creates alley ways for growers to carry dead birds to the side of the house without crossing drinker lines or having to walk hundreds of feet. Creating additional sections of drinker lines means additional pressure regulators to check. This can be addressed by installing a central pressure controller where all drinker lines can be adjusted at a single location.

Dead birds are difficult to pick up, carry and remove from a house, especially heavier, older birds. One option to reduce handling of the dead birds is a conveyor system that can carry birds to the end of the house (fig. 3) . ³ From the conveyor the dead birds fall into a tractor bucket or other transport device and are carried to a composter or incinerator .

A color photo of dead birds hanging from a conveyor inside a chicken house.
Figure 3: Dead birds are carried to the end of the house by a conveyor.

Another strategy to reduce the distance a grower must carry dead birds is the installation of a series of small insulated doors along the side walls. These doors are similar to the doors sometimes used in homes to let dogs and cats outdoors. The doors allow dead birds to be placed outside the house where a grower can pick them up with a farm utility vehicle or a tractor with bucket for transport to the disposal site. These doors are especially helpful in newer houses which tend to be wider and have fewer access doors.

Litter treatment products are spread in houses prior to chick placement. Using a common lawn fertilizer spreader with small hard tires is difficult for growers to maneuver over a litter-covered floor. A spreader equipped with larger pneumatic tires makes this task much easier for growers (fig. 4). ³

A color photo of a man pushing a spreader with large tires to spread litter treatment.
Figure 4: A spreader with large tires can help spread litter treatment.

Feeding Chicks

Chick feeding can be a challenge for growers who have to roll out paper or position box lids to contain the feed. Frequently, chick feeding is done by hand. Installing Chickmate® Baby Chick Feed Dispensers on existing feed lines can be a tremendous labor saver. In older houses a pull or rail-type feed cart is found to be a solution to help with chick feeding.

Feeding paper is commonly used when chicks start eating feed. Placing the feed on the paper makes it easier for chicks to eat. The task of rolling out this paper over the entire length of a house under each feed line can be very strenuous on a person’s back, knees and legs. Devices are available that attach to a farm utility vehicle or a golf cart to help roll out feeding paper.

Dead Bird Disposal and Composting

Composting is a common practice for disposing of dead birds. Individual compost bins are usually rectangular in shape and constructed of heavy lumber (fig. 5). ³ The birds are placed on one side of the bin and additional boards are added as the bin is filled. The lifting activities involved in this task can be physically difficult for some growers. An alternative design is to use swinging gates on these bins, which a grower can easily open and close.

Channel composters offer a labor-saving alternative to individual bins. The compost mixtures are layered using a front-end loader in a series of long channels or alleys. This method eliminates the use of boards or gates and much of the hand labor associated with composting mortalities

A color photo of a typical compost bin with heavy boards.
Figure 5: A typical compost bin, which requires the lifting of heavy boards to place dead birds within.

Clean, double-burner incinerators (fig. 6) ³ are an option for growers who have difficulty with the manual labor involved with bin composters . State regulations vary between states so prospective users should check their state regulations thoroughly. For further information on regulations, check with your state department of agriculture.

A color photo of an incinerator for dead bird disposal.
Figure 6: An incinerator for dead bird disposal.

Conclusion

There are numerous tasks involved in poultry farming that make it a physically demanding occupation. Today’s technology can make it possible for farmers with disabilities or chronic health conditions to continue farming.

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In This Issue
Section 1: Client Story – The McCahills: Creativity and Technology Help a Delaware Couple Keep Raising Chickens Section 2: Focus – Poultry: Broiler Chicken Production in the U.S. Section 3: Assistive Technology Notes – Assistive Technologies for Poultry Operations	Section 4: State Project Feature – Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project Section 5: References and Resources Section 6: Contacts