Minimum Space Requirements for Meat-Strain Birds

Age

Area of Floor Spacea

Area of Feeder Spaceb

Number of Cups or Fountsb (per 1,000 birds)

From 1 day old

0.5 m heated brooder/100 chicks

10 trays/1,000 chicks (feed little and often)

8

From 1 wk old

0.1 m/bird

5 cm/bird

20

From 8 wk old

0.2 m/bird

10 cm/bird

30

Mated adults

All litter: 0.3 m/bird; ½–⅔ slats: 0.21m/bird

10 cm/bird

30 (60 in hot weather)

aBroiler production programs are relatively prescriptive with regard to space requirements, and specific recommendations should be consulted. Provided here are general guidelines.

b For feeder and drinking-trough space, both sides of the trough should be counted. Drinking-trough space (all ages) is 1 in. (2.5 cm) per bird; in hot weather, however, that requirement is doubled for adults.

aBroiler production programs are relatively prescriptive with regard to space requirements, and specific recommendations should be consulted. Provided here are general guidelines.

b For feeder and drinking-trough space, both sides of the trough should be counted. Drinking-trough space (all ages) is 1 in. (2.5 cm) per bird; in hot weather, however, that requirement is doubled for adults.