For his new buildings, the farmer trusted the equipment supplier Big Dutchman with all required poultry systems. One of the shed’ highlights is the efficient manure pit ventilation which reduces ammonia emissions.

Modern breeder management, reduction of ammonia included

An air mixer merges outside air and house air. Simultaneously, this mixed air is heated and then guided into the manure pit via a pipe system. From here, it is distributed over the whole length of the house below the manure pits. This reduces the amount of ammonia significantly. The welcome side effect: The improved house climate also positively affects the birds.

Plastic slats cover the 2.40 meter wide manure pits and ensure perfect manure penetration and optimum hygiene thanks to their small and smooth surface. The slats are characterised by a high loading capacity, a long service life and simple installation. The central focus point of each system are two Big Dutchman Colony MB nest rows, including an expel system. The poultry systems are designed to prevent the hens from sleeping in the nest and to ensure safe egg laying. Short rolling-off distances and a slight inclination of the nesting areas guarantee perfect egg quality.

Poultry systems: feed transport and breeder management

Mr Focke is focused on precision when it comes to poultry feeding systems. Two 40 m3 silos made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) are used to store high-quality feed for the hens. A separate silo, also made of GRP, is available for male feed. The FlexVey auger ensures that all feed is conveyed to the feed weigher without quality losses. The feed weigher FW-99-Breeder promises precise feed weighing and an exact control of the daily feed quantities.

Popular feeding system DR 1500 (well-known in the pig industry) transports the feed to two 8 m³ large GRP day silos and from there to the different feeding places to supply the males. One important feature of the DR 1500 are the long distances the feed can cover using only one drive. The feed is then conveyed from the day silos to the chain feeding circuits with central feed supply via large FlexVey augers.

Poultry systems: feeding, drinking, controlling

In each house, eight "Champion" chain feeding circuits and four male feeding lines equipped with the feed pan Male Pan supply the birds with feed – reliably and quickly. Four drinker lines with nipples made of stainless steel and drip cups invite the birds to drink regularly.

The feed input as well as the egg collection and the fresh and exhaust air are controlled by Big Dutchman's Agro Management And Control System (amacs). This system allows for permanent data acquisition and monitoring of each poultry house in real time – from virtually every location in the world. In the case of technical defects or other problems, amacs sends alarm messages to the cell phone and/or via e-mail.