The Newquip team has carried out countless shed renovations in recent years, updating traditional flat-deck equipment into modern multi-tier systems.
The timber sheds built 20 years ago are still going strong, but they require refurbishment to increase efficiency. Farmers looking to future-proof their egg businesses are opting for innovative multi-tier systems because it means they can improve stocking density and thus increase their yield.
Wales is a prime location for shed refurbishments as sheep and arable farmers look to diversify. Richard Hill is a builder by trade and recently acquired a farm on the England-Wales border. The timber egg shed on site incorporated traditional flat-deck equipped and housed 10,000 birds. Richard took the decision to update the shed with Big Dutchman’s Natura 264 multi-tier system to boost capacity to 16,000 birds.
Richard explains, “These wooden sheds are built to last. It does not make sense to pull them down, so we have altered the chimney and are now undergoing a complete refurbishment of the interior. By the time it is finished, it will be a hybrid shed of sorts.”
By replacing the outdated equipment and modernising his existing shed, Richard is able to keep costs to a minimum. He opted for Big Dutchman’s Natura 264 because it has been tried and tested for successful egg production worldwide. As the market leader, Big Dutchman has developed a system that puts the welfare of the birds first without disregarding functionality and efficiency. Newquip supplies and installs Big Dutchman poultry equipment here in the UK, working hand-in-hand with the customer to develop a bespoke solution that ticks all their boxes.
Richard is adding a new extension to the shed to act as the control centre, featuring Kletec palletising equipment and the Big Dutchman Viper Touch computer, the control panel having been built by our partner Richmond Controls. It is a big investment, but one that Richard is prepared to make in order to gear the poultry unit towards his future needs. Richard adds, “The revamp was a no-brainer because egg prices are so good at the moment, and there was incentive for us to do it. Refurnishing the shed was the right decision because planning is so difficult to get hold of. It made things easier, and we can start to see the return sooner than if we had started from scratch.”
With the birds arriving in a matter of weeks, it’s all hands on deck as we make the final touches to Richard’s new multi-tier poultry shed!