Hen Houses

Selected USDA Research on Poultry Housing and Architecture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has a robust research program that includes studies of poultry housing, especially as it relates to poultry health, human health, and the environment. Here are recent publications on ARS poultry research in this topical area. All of these articles are available from the National Agricultural Library Digital Collections.

(Click any image to read an abstract of the article or to download the full text)
Hen Welfare in Different Housing Systems.jpg
Hen welfare in different housing systems (2011)
Volatile Fatty Acids in Suspended Particulate Matter from a Poultry House Using Rice Hulls as Bedding Materials.jpg
Volatile Fatty Acids in Suspended Particulate Matter from a Poultry House Using Rice Hulls as Bedding Materials — A Profile of First Flock after Total Cleanout (2012)
Poultry litter compost for suppression of root-knot nematode on cacao plants.jpg
Poultry litter compost for suppression of root-knot nematode on cacao plants (2011)
Vertical Stratification of Ammonia in a Broiler House.jpg
Vertical Stratification of Ammonia in a Broiler House (2011)
Effects of group size and repeated social disruption on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in two genetic lines of White Leghorn laying hens.jpg
Effects of group size and repeated social disruption on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in two genetic lines of White Leghorn laying hens (2009)
Effects of Simple and Disposable Chicken Cages for Experimental Eimeria Infections.jpg
Effects of Simple and Disposable Chicken Cages for Experimental Eimeria Infections (2011)
Lighting during grow-out and Salmonella in broiler flocks.jpg
Lighting during grow-out and Salmonella in broiler flocks (2010)
Different Behavioral and Physiological Responses in Two Genetic Lines of Laying Hens After Transportation.JPG
Different Behavioral and Physiological Responses in Two Genetic Lines of Laying Hens After Transportation (2008)
Effect of growth promotant usage on Enterococci species on a poultry farm.JPG
Effect of growth promotant usage on Enterococci species on a poultry farm (2005)
Application of an electrostatic space charge system for dust, ammonia, and pathogen reduction in a broiler breeder house.jpg
Application of an electrostatic space charge system for dust, ammonia, and pathogen reduction in a broiler breeder house (2004)
The effect of perches in cages during pullet rearing and egg laying on hen performance, foot health, and plumage.jpg
The effect of perches in cages during pullet rearing and egg laying on hen performance, foot health, and plumage (2013)
Class 1 and class 2 integrons in poultry carcasses from broiler house and poultry processing environments.jpg
Class 1 and class 2 integrons in poultry carcasses from broiler house and poultry processing environments (2003)
Microbial and antibiotic resistant constituents associated with biological aerosols and poultry litter within a commercial poultry house.jpg
Microbial and antibiotic resistant constituents associated with biological aerosols and poultry litter within a commercial poultry house (2010)
Ammonia Emissions from Twelve U.S. Broiler Chicken Houses.jpg
Ammonia Emissions from Twelve U.S. Broiler Chicken Houses (2006)
Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) design and calibration specifications.jpg
Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) design and calibration specifications (2004)
Broiler litter ammonia emissions near sidewalls, feeders, and waterers.jpg
Broiler litter ammonia emissions near sidewalls, feeders, and waterers (2013)
Pasteurization of chicken litter with steam and quicklime to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium.jpg
Pasteurization of chicken litter with steam and quicklime to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium (2010)
Atmospheric Ammonia Is Detrimental to the Performance of Modern Commercial Broilers.jpg
Atmospheric ammonia is detrimental to the performance of modern commercial broilers (2004)
Distribution of Plant Nutrient Elements and Carbon in Particle Size Fractions of Broiler Litter Ash.jpg
Distribution of Plant Nutrient Elements and Carbon in Particle Size Fractions of Broiler Litter Ash (2012)
Effects of litter amendments on broiler growth characteristics and Salmonella colonization in the crop and cecum.jpg
Effects of litter amendments on broiler growth characteristics and Salmonella colonization in the crop and cecum (2010)