Battery cage for layers is a main way for raising egg-laying chickens in commercial egg production. Battery cage for layers is important for the health, productivity, and wealfare of chicken and economic feasibility of poultry farming businesses, is an excellent choice for countless farmers. Today, we will introduce to you more details about the use of battery cages for layers and analyze the issues that need attention when using them.
Types of battery cage for layers
Layer cages are divided into A type layer cage and H type layer cage. H type layer cage adopts a stacked design, which is suitable for large-scale automatic breeding, but it has a high requirement for the environment. A type layer cage adopts a stepped structure and is more suitable for small-scale or naturally ventilated breeding, but the labor cost is relatively high.
Size and spacing
You should ensure the layer cage size and spacing are suitable to contain the chicken comfortably. The standard size of a layer cage varies with type, layer, and breed density. The common single cage sizes are 40-50 cm in length, 35-45 cm in depth, 40-45 cm in front height, 33-38 cm in rear height, and the slope of the cage bottom is 6°- 9°. This could avoid overcrowding and try to reduce the stress on the chickens, and keep a healthy environment for the chickens. This age ensures that the weight of layer chicken is within the normal standard range and increases the egg-laying rate of layer chickens during the breeding process.
Thermal management
The optimal living temperature of the layer chicken is 13℃-15℃, and the daily temperature difference should be less than 10℃. The minimum temperature in winter is not less than 4℃, and the maximum temperature in summer should not exceed 30℃.
Ventilation is a key of environment control. The main cross-ventilation mode adopted is horizontal and vertical. In winter, minimum ventilation should be the main approach, with the wind speed not exceeding 0.2m/s. In summer, temperature-controlled ventilation is the main approach, and the wind speed should be greater than 0.5m/s. Ventilation not only provides fresh oxygen but also expels harmful gases such as ammonia and carbon dioxide, controls dust and reduces humidity.
Light Management
The control of light intensity and duration has an important influence on the production performance of layer chickens. The light intensity of young chickens ranged from 0.5W/m² to 0.7W/m², and the light exposure time gradually increased to 14 hours per day. After entering the peak egg-laying period, the light intensity ranged from 1W/m² to 1.2W/m², and the light duration was maintained at 16 hours per day.
The suitable humidity range is 60% to 65%. Both excessively high and low humidity can affect the production performance of layer chicken. Too low humidity can cause dehydration in the chicken flock, while too high humidity will affect the comfort and health of the chicken flock.
The environmental management goal is to provide a comfortable living environment to ensure the health and production of layer chickens. The productivity and feed utilization rate of layer chickens can be effectively improved by controlling temperature, ventilation, lighting, and humidity, thereby enhancing the breeding efficiency.
3. Effective feed and water management
Automatic feed and water system
Our cage takes advantage of an automatic feeding system and drinking system for battery chicken for layers to ensure continuous access to feed and water for the chicken. Provide high-quality feed formulas to meet the nutritional needs of chickens at different growth stages. Different compound feeds are fed in segments according to egg-laying period and egg-laying rate. Pre-laying hens, peak laying hens and late laying hens need different feed formulations. Feed should be changed gradually to avoid sudden changes affecting laying rate to ensure optimal health and laying rate. Drinking need clean and enough. Warm water is provided in winter and cold water in summer. Keep the water dispenser clean, replace and clean it regularly to ensure the water quality is hygienic.
4. Biosecurity and disease prevention
Implement strict biosafety procedures, including regularly cleaning, hygienically handling, and disinfecting poultry cages and the surrounding environment to minimize the risk of diseases and maintain hygiene. For example, galvanized mesh should be used with hard-bristled brushes to prevent scratches or pitting. When cleaning the impurities, it should be soaked to soften. The cage bottom should be covered with bedding materials such as hay or sawdust to ensure the absorption of manure and keep it dry and hygienic. Cleaning the coop and cage could effectively reduce the breeding of bacteria and viruses to prevent disease.
Regularly observe the behavior, performance, and health status of the chicken, and intervene when necessary. In terms of daily maintenance, it is necessary to check the condition of the chicken cage every day to see if there are any damaged or deformed areas, especially at the connection points and the mesh parts. If there are any problems, they should be repaired in time to prevent the chickens from escaping or getting injured. Farmers should pay attention to the behavior of chickens. If you find the chicken has abnormal behavior, such as cage pecking, you should check whether there are any problems with the chicken cage, such as whether there are sharp corners or edges.
Battery chicken cage for layers manufacturer-AGICO Group
AGICO Group is a poultry cage especially is a battery cage for layers manufacturer, specializing in the research and development, production, sales, installation, and after-sales service of battery cages. Our company produces battery cages for layers that have a suitable structure, stable performance and sturdiness, and durability. The battery cage for layers adopts hot-dip galvanizing surface treatment technology, and the normal service life of the equipment is over twenty years.
