Modern Broiler Farming: 4 Key Differences From Traditional Methods

Advances in technology have given rise to all kinds of modern farming methods. These methods have several advantages over traditional chicken farming. Even so, modern and traditional methods each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Poultry farmers who want to go modern should first understand the pros and cons so they do not end up regretting it halfway through.

Modern vs. Traditional Chicken Farming

The main advantage of a modern broiler farming system is higher productivity. Beyond that, there are several striking differences between modern and traditional broiler farming:

1. Coops

The first and most striking difference is the coop. Modern chicken farms more often use a closed house system, meaning a fully enclosed coop. In dry, dusty seasons like the current one, a closed house system is recommended because viruses and bacteria spread easily through the air. Without the protection of a closed house, chickens are easily infected by those viruses and bacteria. Traditional farms still use an open house system, where the coop walls are open. Through those open walls, the chickens breathe in viruses and bacteria, so birds with weak immune systems are easily infected.

2. Feeding

Another difference between modern and traditional broiler farming is feeding. With the traditional method, farmers must feed by hand, while the modern method is highly advanced and run by a system. Farmers simply load feed into the feeder provided, and the system distributes it to set points, so they do not have to portion out the rations by hand. This saves farmers time and labor while the chickens stay productive.

Also read Broiler Farming Benefits You Should Know

3. Lighting

Lighting is another striking difference between modern and traditional broiler farming. Traditional broiler farms still use ordinary electric lights, while some modern operations use lighting powered by wind and solar energy. The lighting inside modern coops is also brighter because it is spread evenly rather than concentrated in a single spot.

4. Vitamin and Antibiotic Delivery

Modern chicken farms use advanced technology to give vitamins and antibiotics to the birds. A pipe running through the middle of the coop delivers the vitamins and antibiotics. On traditional farms, vitamins and antibiotics have to be given by hand, one bird at a time, which takes more labor and time.

Drawbacks of Modern Broiler Farming

Although it is considered environmentally friendly, modern farming will drain your budget because the costs are substantial. The method suits only large farms that are registered legal entities; for backyard or small industrial-scale farmers, it is not effective because of limited capital and funds. Setting up the coops and systems this way also requires skilled experts who are competent in the field, and not everyone can do it.

Also read Advantages and Opportunities in the Broiler Business

Every farming technique has its own advantages and drawbacks. If you do not feel ready for modern broiler farming yet, you can use the traditional method with less capital, and it will still pay off as long as it is done properly.