Deep Litter System for 10,000 Broilers in Zimbabwe
Project Overview
This project is located in Zimbabwe, where the client is a local poultry farmer operating in a rural area with limited access to large-scale infrastructure. The farmer aimed to raise 10,000 broiler chickens using a cost-effective and easy-to-manage system. After consulting with our team, the client chose the deep litter system, a popular solution for broiler floor rearing that offers simplicity, flexibility, and good results in warm climates.
LIVI Machinery provided a complete floor-rearing system tailored to the farmer’s budget, chicken house structure, and daily management ability.
What Is the Deep Litter System?
The deep litter system is a floor-based broiler rearing method where birds are kept directly on a bedding material, such as wood shavings, rice husks, or straw. This bedding absorbs moisture and manure and is periodically stirred or topped up during the growing cycle.
It is widely used in Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa due to:
- Low investment cost
- Simple structure and operation
- Good thermal insulation in colder seasons
- Easy maintenance for medium-sized farms
Customer Needs
- Raise 10,000 broilers per cycle, with potential for multiple cycles per year
- Utilize an existing poultry house (100m × 10m) with open sides and a low roof
- Reduce upfront investment while ensuring a clean, productive environment
- Use automatic feeding and drinking systems to reduce labor
- Maintain a proper ventilation system to control heat and ammonia buildup
LIVI’s Solution
To meet these needs, LIVI provided the following equipment and support:
Deep Litter Floor System
- Recommended wood shavings for bedding, with 8–10 cm thickness
- Provided guidelines for bedding stirring and top-up schedule to prevent caking and bacteria buildup
- Supplied plastic poultry fences and brooder guards to separate zones if needed
Drinking System
- Installed nipple drinking lines with pressure-regulated water tanks
- Height-adjustable drinking lines suitable for growing broilers
- Optional hanging drinkers provided for supplementary water access
Feeding System
- Supplied automatic feeding lines with 16-grill pans per line
- Feed level adjustable via the central control box
- One feeding line per 4,000 birds, total 3 lines installed
Results & Feedback
After the first rearing cycle, the client reported:
“I was surprised how clean and manageable the deep litter system was. With good ventilation and regular bedding care, the chickens stayed healthy, and I had very little mortality. LIVI’s feeding and drinking systems made daily management very easy.”
The farm successfully raised 10,000 broilers with excellent weight gain and feed conversion. The customer has already ordered another set of equipment for a second house.
Why Choose a Deep Litter System?
✅ Low setup cost – no cages or complicated installation
✅ Good for small to medium farms
✅ Natural behavior for birds – better welfare perception
✅ Easier farm expansion and scalability
✅ Compatible with automation for feeding and drinking
Start Your Poultry Business with LIVI
LIVI Machinery has helped poultry farmers in over 70 countries with customized equipment and support. Whether you raise chickens in cages or on the floor, we can design the best system for your needs.
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📞 WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 155 3717 9350
🌐 Website: www.livimachinery.com
