Cages for laying hens: how to do it yourself, types and sizes, rules of keeping

In order for chickens to have good productivity, they must be well cared for. One of the most important questions is how to properly make a chicken cage. If it is done correctly, poultry will be kept in comfortable conditions. The laying hutch should be designed in such a way as to best suit the needs of the hen rearing.

Main pros and cons of laying cages

Supporters of the fact that laying hens are better grown in a closed cage space have their own arguments for this:

With this method of keeping the birds are completely protected from predators.
The degree of control over the he alth of birds is much higher than in open space. Here you can immediately see a sick bird and take the necessary measures in this regard.
Because contact with the outside world is limited, the chance of contracting infectious diseases is minimized.
There are more suitable conditions in the cage to ensure long-term egg production.
In a limited space, it is easy to collect eggs that have been laid. In open space, sometimes chickens hide them in secluded places where they are difficult to find.
Due to limited mobility, birds living in cages eat less, which saves food.
Using cages allows more chickens to be housed in the farmer's space.

Some farmers are opposed to keeping chickens in cages. They make the following arguments:

Closed spaces limit the mobility of layers and as a result reduce their productivity.
The cages are in a shed or chicken coop and artificial light is used for them. As a result, weak ultraviolet irradiation leads to the formation of a small amount of vitamin D, which must be added to laying hens in food.
Content in cages does not give chickens the opportunity to consume natural food (grass, insects). Nutritional supplements are needed to make up for inadequate nutrition.
When several birds are together, contagious diseases spread among them at a high speed.

On the one hand, free-range chickens have the opportunity to lead a he althier life, while increasing the number of problems for their owner. On the other hand, with careful and caring care, the shortcomings of the closed keeping of birds can be compensated.

For example, to do this, you can do the following:

Keep laying hens indoors only during the cold season, allowing them to spend time outside in spring, summer and autumn.
Add fresh grass to them.
When keeping birds in cages, avoid overcrowding.
Change the litter often enough for the birds to feel more comfortable.

The better the hens are cared for, the more productive they can be expected to be.

Design requirements

It is necessary to provide bird feeders and drinkers. It is believed that none of the walls of the structure should be deaf. It is necessary to provide such a microclimate that is best suited for chickens - the cages should be warm and dry.

Sizes

Cage area should be calculated based on how many laying hens the owner has. For one bird, it is necessary to provide 600 square meters. see. The total area must be such that all birds can be accommodated on it, taking into account compliance with the specified standard given for the egg-bearing breed. For egg and meat breeds, more space will be required - 800 square meters each. see each bird.

Strength

You need to take care of the strength of the floor. If it is weak, then over time it will begin to sag. It is necessary that the metal bars that form the lattice are strong and the holes are small. They should protect the birds from predators, some of which (like ferrets or weasels) are able to crawl through a small hole.

Lighting

It is necessary to ensure that the light illuminates all cells evenly. There should be neither twilight nor too bright lighting. It will be useful to use a dimmer switch so that the light turns off and on smoothly, mimicking the natural day and night cycle.

Presence of an egg collector

This piece is an oblique mesh with a stop along the underside. When the hens lay their eggs, they roll down and stay along the edge, which is located where they can be easily collected. At the same time, the laying hen cannot reach them and accidentally damage them.

Types of cells

Cages during the cold season are indoors (in a chicken coop or barn). In summer, it is allowed to take chicken houses into the open air. At the same time, it is necessary to provide that they are covered from above from possible rain. For this purpose, you can, for example, use slate or other similar material.

Housing for chickens can be made different depending on the tasks and on the available financial possibilities in ways. The following options are possible, for example:

Cages with bedding provided. They make a blank floor, on which they put a layer of straw or sawdust.
Design, which provides for the presence of an egg collector. In this case, the floor is made inclined so that the laid eggs lie compactly and in one part of the cage. The floor is made double. The bottom layer is made solid, and the top one should be lattice. This type of cage helps keep the chicken house clean and dry.

Such designs are in most cases made for several chickens. Usually they are designed for 7-10 birds. If we are talking about a large farm, then the capacity may be more.

If there are a lot of birds on the farm, then the cages have a battery: rows of several floors.

Required tools and materials

Cage can be made using various materials, but the most common is the use of galvanized metal mesh, which is fixed on a wooden or metal frame.

This is beneficial because it ensures good air exchange with the surrounding space and high-quality lighting if there are windows in the room.

To make a cage that will contain 4-5 layers, you need to prepare the following materials:

Wooden block with a section of 4 × 4 cm. Length 3 m - you will need 5 pcs. 2×4 cm of the same length - 3 pieces
Walls, floors and ceilings need a meter-wide mesh 3 m long.
For the front wall, you need to prepare a metal grate 1×1 m with cells 5×10 cm.
You will need metal corners to create the frame.
We need two types of self-tapping screws: for fastening the frame and with large caps for installing the mesh.
Galvanized sheet for making a pallet with a thickness of 1-1.5 mm.

Tools Needed:

hacksaw;
screwdriver;
square, level and tape measure;
grinder for working with mesh and galvanized.

The dimensions of the cage in this case are 50×100 cm in length and width, 45 cm in height.

Cooking instructions

To make a cage with your own hands, you need to sequentially follow the steps described below. Initially, it is necessary to draw up a diagram according to which the assembly will take place.

Frame, grille and cladding

First you need to cut a wooden beam into pieces of the desired length and make a cage frame out of them. A thinner beam is used for the grating on which the cage is to be installed.

Side and back walls must be done with a lattice.

Attach the mesh to the side and back walls, floor and ceiling.

Bottom, pallet and legs

The bottom is made of a fine mesh grid. When installing, it is necessary to ensure a slope towards the front. The front edge of the grill must be folded up so that the eggs do not roll.

Under it, about 10-15 cm lower, there is a pallet. It can be made of tin or be a horizontal wooden plane. Garbage and waste products of chickens fall on the pallet. It is taken out, cleaned and then put back in place. It is generally recommended to clean the drip tray at least twice a week.

If the cage is too large, it will be difficult to clean the entire pallet at once. In this case, you can make it consist of several parts, each of which can be cleaned separately.

If the cage is supposed to be taken outside, legs with wheels are attached from below.

Front wall

A feeder is installed on the front wall. There should be holes here so that the laying hen can stick her head between the bars to reach for food. It is believed that the minimum cell size in this place should be 5 × 10 cm. A drinker is placed 10 cm higher.

A door is usually placed on the front wall through which the birds are placed in the cage or taken out of it. With a single-tier arrangement, it can be made in the form of a folding roof.

Lighting

It is necessary to provide even, but not too bright lighting for birds. It will need to be turned off at night.

Ceiling

The ceiling is made of a metal grid. It is attached with screws to the cage frame.

Roof

The material from which it is better to make a cover depends on whether it is supposed to take the cage outside in the warm season.If so, then it is made of solid material to protect it from precipitation. In this case, it is recommended to provide a slope to ensure the flow of water.

If the chicken house stays indoors, no cover will need to be made for this purpose.

Care

It is recommended to clean the drip tray at least twice a week. Drinking water must be kept clean at all times. In addition, the feeder and drinker should be cleaned and washed at least twice a week.