Good housing is essential to protect against predators, thieves, rough weather (rain, sun, very cold winds, dropping night temperatures) and to provide shelter for egg laying and broody hens. A suitable or comfortable poultry house is also important for efficient production and convenience of the poultry farmer. The two main types of chicken housing commonly found in Malawi are;

1. Raised chicken houses

Raised chicken houses, also referred to as pigeon-type houses, are common. Advantages of raised chicken houses include:

• They are cheap, made from local materials (grass, bamboo and poles)
• Birds roost off the ground, and when the ladder is removed at night, birds are protected from wild animals/predators
• Fresh air comes up between the poles in the floor of the house, thus keeping the air in the khola fresh
• The house is self-cleaning as birds push their own droppings through the floor

2. Ground based kholas

Ground based kholas are common for small scale commercial poultry enterprises, but they are also commonly seen for free-range chickens in rural areas. They may be round or rectangular. The walls are of bricks or mud and windows are provided for ventilation.  These should be built on a base which itself is at least 15-20 cm higher than the surrounding ground.

They are often called deep litter houses because they should have litter on the floor to a depth of 7-15 cm. Litter can be wood shavings, sawdust, bean or pea husks, groundnut shells, rice hulls/bran, chopped maize stover, dried grass or leaves. Choice depends on availability and cost.

The khola should be cleaned whenever necessary. The period between cleaning will vary according to the design of the khola. Some designs stay cleaner for longer. The interior of the khola should always be dry. A wet, muddy khola with accumulation of faecal matter allows survival and spread of several types of diseases.

An example of a raised khola.