Farming
Two types of meat chicken farming systems are used in New Zealand: Barn, and Free-Range.
In Barn systems, chickens are raised in large, open-plan poultry houses called “sheds”, “houses” or “units”. Sheds can be up to 150 metres long and 15 metres wide and hold up to 40,000 adult chickens.
Sheds are equipped with automated temperature and ventilation controls and feed and watering systems and have litter (wood shavings) floors so they remain dry underfoot. Careful attention is given to the regulations relating to stocking densities in the Code of Welfare for meat chickens.