Creating the Right Climate for Turkeys at Avara’s Coppice Farm

Coppice Farm, a part of the Avara Food Group, was established in 2017 with two sheds and expanded to four in 2025. Initially, the farm was used for stag grow-out, but in 2021, it changed to a full-cycle site, rearing both hens and stags from day-old until finishing, separated by sex. Each shed has the capacity to house up to 12,500 birds. The farm uses Aviagen genetics, selected for superior performance. 

To ensure optimal growing conditions, Coppice Farm relies on Climatec, which supplies the farm with advanced climate control systems. The sheds operate using Climatec Q system and Munters heat exchangers to maintain stable temperature and airflow.

The feeding and drinking setup includes Lubin hen and stag cups and Roxell MultiMax feeders with feed saver rings. These were chosen for ease of use and improved feed conversion. The entire operation functions as one complete climate solution, with precision lighting serving as a fundamental component, directly influencing the birds' well-being and productivity.

This approach reflects the longstanding collaboration between Climatec and HATO, combining expertise in climate control and lighting to create the ideal climate for poultry production. 

Climatec Supplies Complete Climate Control at Avara’s Coppice Farm 

Turkeys are highly sensitive to light intensity and distribution, which significantly influences their behaviour, welfare, and feed intake. In the older sheds, the original fluorescent strips created uneven light and shadowing, which was exacerbated by the brooding equipment and bedding stored inside. This unevenness made it more difficult to maintain the optimum environment. 

When the two new sheds were added, HATO lighting was selected for its efficiency, excellent light spread and flicker-free technology. The system offers full flexibility in lux levels without compromising light quality, which is crucial for turkeys. Mick, the farm manager with 28 years at Avara, can start poults at 80 lux and reduce the intensity to 10 lux if needed. This flexibility promotes calm behaviour and supports even distribution of birds throughout the entire crop. 

Early Results and Attention to Detail 

The first crop raised in the new HATO sheds demonstrated a stronger poult start compared to the fluorescent-lit sheds. Shadowing was almost entirely eliminated, and the birds were more evenly spread across the floor. Mick noted that the light distribution was so effective that the original plan to install five lines of CORAX Cold White XL proved to be excessive.

“If we had known how well HATO spreads light, we would have put one line less in,” he says. 

Managing turkeys from day-old to finish requires more than just good genetics. Coppice stores most of its bedding inside the sheds and uses a large amount of brooding equipment, which historically created dark corners and uneven conditions. By reducing nearly all shadowing and improving light control, the HATO system helped overcome these environmental challenges. When combined with the reliable Roxell feeders and Lubin cups, chosen for their feed conversion benefits, the farm is better able to maintain consistent performance, even within its complex housing setup. 

Looking Ahead 

With only one crop completed in the new sheds, Mick is optimistic and eager to see continuous improvements. Early results are very promising, showing better starts, significantly reduced shadowing, and easier behavioural management. For Coppice Farm, lighting is clearly not just about visibility; it is a key part of the climate strategy that maintains bird health and keeps performance levels high.