Open-sided broiler houses rely on natural airflow instead of environmental control, which makes management more challenging—but not impossible. Success in these systems depends on how well the houses are managed.
The Biggest Challenge: Temperature Control
Temperature control starts with house design. Roofs should be double- or triple-ridge designs to allow hot air to escape rapidly, especially if they are uninsulated. The roof should extend 1.0-1.5 m beyond the house walls to prevent direct sunlight and rain from reaching the chickens, and shade cloth should run from the edge of the roof to the ground. A white or shiny roofing material will help reflect heat away from the building, and under-roof insulation can reduce radiant heat entering the house. Vegetation near a slat house can reduce ground temperature compared to bare earth, and trees can provide shade, but the benefits must be weighed against the risk of creating places for birds and rodents near the house.