What are Chicken Cages, and Why Should I Use Them?
As a poultry farmer, you might be wondering, what is all this fuss about the use of cages? You say to yourself that poultry farmers have always used the free-range chicken farming or the deep-litter system. You are probably right but hold on and hear me out.
In as much as the known and common method is the free-range or the deep-litter system, a better option has come to stay, which is the use of chicken cages. Poultry chicken cages come in different capacities, from a single cell containing a bird to colony cages containing over 50 birds.
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Cages will serve as a better option for you as a farmer. It prevents the hectic work involved, such as packing the wastes of a deep-litter poultry system. It also helps your poultry birds avoid contact with migratory or wild birds, which is common in the free-range system and could affect your bird's health.
With this in mind, let's consider what you should look out for when choosing your chicken cage.
1. Are You Rearing An Egg Laying Bird or Broiler Bird
2. Amounts of Birds You Intend To Raise
3. Space Available To You
4. Waste Management
5. Automatic or Manual Chicken Cage
1. Are You Rearing An Egg Laying Bird or Broiler (Meat) Bird
One of the most critical factors you must consider before shopping for your chicken cage is if you rear a layer or broiler. The design of layer and broiler cages are different, as layers lay eggs and you raise broilers for meat. Battery cages are primarily familiar with layer breeds, as their floors are sloped to roll down eggs to a trough on one end of the cage. In such a case, purchasing a broiler cage for layer birds will be a disaster.
2. Amounts of Birds You Intend To Raise
Cages come in different capacities depending on your needs and the number of your birds. You should allocate each bird a 67-86 square inches of space as recommended, and consider the number of your birds to specify the cage type and know what capacity of cage you want to buy. Most cage sizes are from a bathtub to the size of a desk drawer and can contain 4 to 9 birds per cage.
3. Space Available To You
These poultry cages can be massive, so it is essential to know how much space the chicken cage will take up before purchasing one. Since the chicken cages will need a lot of fresh air and direct sunlight, I will recommend you build a new structure considering the cage's size. Many poultry equipment companies offer consultancy and assistance to farmers and tell them how much space these cages can take up.
4. Waste Management
These can be an aspect that can frustrate chicken cage owners quickly if they do not prepare. Most poultry chicken cages use the pit system, where the waste is flushed and later extracted. However, wastes tend to add up more quickly due to spilled feeds, water, feathers, and chicken litter. It is essential to note you have a pit system in place before considering using a poultry chicken cage.
5. Automatic or Manual Chicken Cage
The significant difference is that automatic cages come with all necessary accessories such as the feeder, drinker, conveyor belt for gathering eggs, and a conveyor belt for removing chicken waste. While the manual cages require human effort to feed the birds, supply water, pack eggs if necessary, and evacuate the feces. Manual chicken cages are mainly used for smaller farms with fewer birds, while automatic cages are for commercial purposes.
The use of chicken cages for your poultry will enhance your farming experience. It will give you maximum return on your investments as the poultry chickens are confined, don't waste any energy wandering, and the poultry farmer with laying birds is no longer troubled with broody hens. As a poultry farmer, a poultry chicken cage is an option you want to give a try!