Jörg Lübbers, farmer from Lingen in Northwest Germany, has extended his family-owned farm to include a new broiler breeder house. The new poultry house has room for 18,500 broiler breeders. All poultry equipment and feeding systems are from Big Dutchman. In addition to classic products from the poultry equipment supplier from Vechta, such as the poultry feeding systems Augermatic and Champion, the innovative farmer decided to install several new products. Two examples: the group laying nest "Relax" and the feed conveying system "FlexVey PUR". Mr. Lübbers inaugurated his modern new poultry house and its equipment recently, with approximately 300 guests, some all the way from Belgium, France and the Netherlands – by invitation only.
The production of hatching eggs is a very challenging type of poultry management. Implementing high hygiene standards plays a central role in the day-to-day work because the birds must be healthy and strong so the hatchlings are vigorous as well. Successful broiler breeder management therefore requires much expertise from the poultry manager – and poultry equipment which ensures optimum conditions both for the farm staff and regarding hygiene.
New group laying nest for broiler breeder management
The decision to use Relax was thus made with good reason. The innovative group laying nest is equipped with two separate nest roofs which can be lifted easily to facilitate nest and egg belt control. As requested by the customer, Big Dutchman included a central, manually operated opening mechanism for the front roofs. This makes working with the nest even more convenient because both nest roofs can be lifted simultaneously. The separation of the roof into two parts stops the birds from jumping into the egg channel.
The egg belt with its three-point bearing is also new. An increased number of triangle-shaped holes minimises the contact between egg and belt. The eggs thus lie more stably on the belt and are stopped gently when rolling off of the belt. Less surface also means less dirt. The pleasing result: a reduced number of body-checked and dirty eggs.
Relax is made of high-quality and long-lasting materials. This helps to increase nest acceptance and ensures ideal nest hygiene. The smooth surfaces make it easier to clean the nest and reduce both bacteria load and insect attack during the batch.
Modern poultry feeding systems and easily adjustable roll deflector
Males receive their feed from the Augermatic feeding system and eat from the MalePan. In contrast, the females are supplied with feed by means of the Champion chain feeding system. Seventy-seven years after its invention, Champion is still Big Dutchman's big seller all around the world. The feed chain distributes the feed evenly, rapidly and reliably in the entire house.
The roll deflector installed above the females' trough keeps the males from eating out of them and is another Big Dutchman innovation. Compared to other models, this roller can be adjusted quickly and with high precision, feature that Mr. Lübbers appreciates considering his high workload. The roll deflector's height is changed depending on the age of the birds, i.e. the height of the comb or the width of their heads.
Devices preventing the birds from sitting on the feed chain circuits are indispensable. They are necessary to ensure that the weight load on the circuits is not too high. The breeders can easily jump over the deflector without getting hurt.
Perches installed above the plastic flooring provide an ideal place for roosting. Mr. Lübbers can lift the perches during the service period – another advantage helping to manage the heavy workload. The moisture-proof LED lamps called Zeus are an entirely new product. They illuminate the entire poultry house in Lingen evenly and are very energy-efficient.
Innovative FlexVey PUR feed conveying system
Another highlight of the new poultry house is FlexVey PUR, a new Big Dutchman conveying system which conveys feed from the silo to the house and is extremely resistant to wear and tear. Its special feature is the spiral hose made of high-quality, wear-resistant polyurethane. Successful endurance tests convinced Mr. Lübbers: Compared to traditional conveying systems, the service life of this system is four to five times longer.
The pliable hose is easily installed and very flexible. Complicated mounting around corners is no longer necessary. The system is also very quiet to operate: another advantage. This reflects positively on the behaviour of the birds; stressful situations in the house can be avoided.