GB2359973A - Improvements in and relating to animal houses - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal house 2 has walls 6, a roof 8 and a floor 4, and is provided with one or more panels 10, extending from the roof to just above the floor. The panels may incorporate extensions 16, which are slidably mounted on, or optionally attachable to the main panel body. The panels may also incorporate a flexible fringed edge 18. A pulley system is used to alter the angle, height and lateral positioning of each panel, said system may be computer controlled. The animal house also comprises heaters, lights and fans to allow the environment of each partitioned section to be regulated independently. The house is stated to be particularly intended for poultry.

Description

2359973 Title: Improvements in and relating to animal houses.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to improvements in housing for animals, particularly but not exclusively in relation to houses for poultry.

Poultry, such as broiler chicken and turkeys, are usually kept in large houses having controlled environmental conditions. Sub-divisions are rarely provided within the house but, if present, are resting on the floor of the house to prevent birds from moving between the areas (known as "pens"). The only fluniture provided in the house tends to be feeders and drinkers. Light sources, in the form of fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, are spread evenly within the house to provide a near uniform light intensity.

A problem that arises with rearing birds in such houses is that the birds often damage each other by pecking, either as a result of aggression or curiosity. In order to prevent this, the birds beaks may be trimmed (normally by removing a third of the upper beak) and/or by reducing the light intensity within the house to a low level, normally around 5 lux.

It is believed that such pecking damage results from boredom of the birds due to a lack of environmental stimulus being provided within the house. Research work has been comm. issioned by the government and industry organisations to try to find ways to enrich the enviromnent of the houses for the birds.

Animal welfare groups are also critical of the low light intensities under which the birds are reared. There is a proposal before the Council of Europe that the minimum light intensity under which birds should be reared should be 20 lux. Concurrent with this is a proposal to ban beak trimming of birds. These two proposals are not compatible and would 2 result in considerable pecking damage to birds. This would threaten the existence of large scale growing of meat birds in Europe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved house for rearing animals, in particular poultry, that aims to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a house for animals, particularly poultry, the house comprising walls, a roof and a floor, the house being provided with at least one panel extending from the roof for separating the house into two or more compartments wherein a passage is provided between the floor and the panel for movement of animals between the compartments.

Preferably, the panel is suspended from the roof of the house and is pivotally mounted to allow the angle of suspension to be altered, for example using a system of cables and pulleys. More preferably, the panel may also be moved laterally to alter the positioning of the compartments in the house. For example, the panel may be attached to the roof by a member having a longitudinal channel for lateral movement of the panel. Suitable fixing means are provided for locking the panel in a desired position.

More preferably, an extension part is provided at the base of the panel to enable the height of the panel to be altered. For example, the extension part may be slideably mounted to the bottom part of the panel. Alternatively, a separate extension panel may be temporarily attached to the main panel, when required.

The base of the panel or the base of the extension part may be provided with a skirt or fringe that extends between the base of the panel/extension part and the floor. 1'he skirt is preferably of a flexible material to enable the animals to pass through the skirt between compartments. More preferably, the skirt is fringed, being formed from strips of flexible material.

3 The panels and skirt may be made of any suitable material, such as wood or plastics material.

The panels that partition the house into compartments allow different environments to be set up within the house, for example with respect to light intensities, whilst allowing the animals to move between the compartments. The positioning, length and angle of the panels may be altered to vary the environment for the animals and to accommodate growth of the animals.

The lighting conditions, temperature and daylength artificially set up within the house may be computer controlled, as may the movement of the panels within the house to provide automatic changes in the environment of the house over time.

Vertical spaces may be provided at intervals between the panels to allow movement of staff between different rooms of the house. Such spaces may be covered with a loose material to allow the cover to be pushed aside for access.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be caiTied into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is schematic cross-sectional diagram of a poultry house according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a panel installed in the poultry house shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a front view of the panel shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which identical features are given the same reference numerals, a house 2 for rearing poultry according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The house has a floor 4, side walls 6 and a sloping roof 8. A number of flat, rigid panels 10 (two are shown in Figure 1) hang from the roof of the house 4 but do not come into contact with the floor 2, thereby providing a suspended wall 10. The panels have a main upper part 14, a lower extension 16 and a skirt 18. The extension panel 16 is vertically adjustable with respect to the main part of the panel by being slidable along the lower part of the main panel to enable the length of the panel to be increased or decreased (illustrated by arrow A in Figure 1). However, it is to be appreciated that this part of the panel may be, for example, in the form of a separate section that may be temporarily fixed to the base of the panel when required, may be hingedly mounted to the base of the main part or the main part may be telescopically extendible. The skirt or fringe 18 provided at the base of the extension is an optional feature and is made up of a series of parallel flexible strips 20 to enable the birds to pass through the skirt (see Figure 3).

The panel is pivotally mounted to the roof of the house by means of a pivot shaft 21 to enable the angle of suspension of the wall to be altered (illustrated by arrow B in Figure 1). For example, the pivot shaft may be provided between a truss filler panel 23 between the trusses 25 supporting the roof of the house (see Figure 3). A system of cables or ropes 22a, 22b and pulleys 24a, 24b are provided to effect vertical and rotational movement of the panels respectively, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. These may be linked by means of a common shaft to facilitate simultaneous operation of the panels. The movement may also be synchronised by operation from a single control panel. Guide channels 27 and a guide pulley 29 are provided to assist in raising and lowering of the extension member 16.

The top of the panel is attached to a longitudinal member 26 that is fixedly secured to the roof of the house, the member having a channel along which the top end of the panel may slide, thereby permitting lateral movement of the panel. Suitable fixing means (not shown) are provided to secure the panel in a desired location along the member.

In this manner, the panels 10 form suspended partitions that divide the house into distinct areas or rooms. For example, in Figure 1 two parallel partitions are provided running along the length of the house thereby dividing the house into three rooms. However, it is to be appreciated that any number of partitions may be provided, for example, depending upon the size of the house, the number of birds contained within the house and the type of bird. The partitions allow different environmental conditions to be set up in each room, for example with respect to daylength, light intensity and temperature and allows movement of the birds between the areas. The ability to provide different light intensities within the house whilst allowing free movement of the birds enables the birds to choose the light intensity they desire at a particular time. In doing so, their environment is enriched. By adjusting the timing of the light and dark periods within different rooms of the house, the birds can be induced to move into different areas of the house. This may be used as an aid to management and fitness of flock because it encourages the birds to exercise regularly.

The present invention also assists in ventilation of the bird house. Most poultry houses have forced ventilation. As illustrated in Figure 1, a fan 30 is provided in the roof 8 pulling air in through side inlets 32. Alternatively, the fans may be provided in the side walls and pull air in through inlets provided in the roof. The panels 10 that form partitions in the house will alter the air flow within the house, forcing it down to ground level (illustrated by arrow C in Figure 1) rather than it taking the shortest route possible between inlet and outlet.

This too has management benefits in that fresh air is brought down to the birds and the air will aid drying of the litter. Furthermore, in summer, it makes it possible to increase the air speed over the birds to aid cooling thereof. This is important since heat stress can be a serious problem during the summer months and in hot countries. Directing fresh air more 6 precisely should result in an improvement in the welfare and economies of growing meat type poultry, particularly during hot weather or in hot climates.

The house may also be provided with vertical spaces (not shown) at intervals between the panels to facilitate movement of staff within the house. A loose material may be hung down over the spaces, for example in the form of a curtain, which is easily pushed aside to allow access of staff from one room to another.

The ability to adjust the length and angle of suspension of the panel also enables the panels to be altered to accommodate growth of the birds. The depth of the access space at the floor of the panel may be varied, as may the total floor area within a room.

If it should become a legal requirement for poultry to be given access to a minimum light intensity, in addition to beak trimming becoming illegal, the present invention will provide a house that allows these requirements to be met whilst reducing the risk of pecking damage. High light intensities can be provided in some rooms, leaving other with low light intensity to which bullied birds or those wanting to sleep without disturbance may retire. The invention may be easily installed into existing houses to meet the requirements. Additional economic benefits should arise as a result of improved growth rates, reduced culling due to bullying and improved factory grading.

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Claims (19)

CLAIMS,

1. A house for animals, the house comprising walls, a roof and a floor, the house being provided with at least one panel extending from the roof for separating the house into two or more compartments wherein a passage is provided between the floor and the panel for movement of animals between the compartments.

2. An animal house as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel is suspended from the roof and is pivotally mounted to allow the angle of suspension to be altered.

3. An animal house as claimed in claim 2, wherein the angle of suspension is altered using a system of cables and pulleys.

4. An animal house as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the panel may be moved laterally to alter the positioning of the compartments in the house.

5. An animal house as claimed in claim 4 wherein the panel is attached to the roof by a member having a longitudinal channel for lateral movement of the panel.

6. An animal house as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein fixing means is provided for locking the panel in a desired position.

7. An animal house as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an extension part is provided at the base of the panel to enable the height of the panel to be altered.

8. An animal house as claimed in claim 7, wherein the extension part is slideably mounted to a bottom part of the panel.

9. An animal house as claimed in claim 7, wherein a separate extension part is provided for temporary attachment to the panel.

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10. An animal house as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the base of the panel is provided with a skirt extending between the base of the panel and the floor.

11. An animal house as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the base of the extension part is provided with a skirt extending between the base of the extension part and the floor.

12. An animal house as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the skirt is made of a flexible material.

13. An animal house as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the skirt is fringed, being formed ftom strips of material.

14. An animal house as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein vertical spaces are provided at intervals between the panels.

15. An animal house as claimed in claim 14, wherein a moveable cover is provided over the vertical spaces.

16. An animal house as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15, wherein positioning of the panels is computer controlled.

17. An animal house as claimed in any one of the precedmig claims further comprising adjustable lighting and temperature equipment for artificial adjustments of temperature and daylength in the house.

18. An animal house as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fan is provided within the house.

19. An animal house substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.