Do-it-yourself broiler cages: dimensions, how to make with drawings at home

Cages for growing broilers are purchased in livestock stores or made by yourself. Construction does not require special skills and a lot of time. The main thing is to get the necessary material.

Features of keeping broilers in cages

Having broilers in cages has its advantages. These include:

• Reducing the risk of disease in chickens.
• Convenient waste disposal option.
• Convenience of placing chickens indoors.
• It is possible to place outdoors in warm weather.
• There are places for drinking bowls and feeders.
• Allows you to monitor the he alth of chicks and adults, timely reject the diseased.
• Possibly daily allowance.

Design specifics

Cages for broilers are purchased from livestock stores or made by yourself. Young chickens are kept in cages, such a design must be equipped with everything necessary for the growth and development of the bird. Design features include:

• there is a feeder for chicks;
• Safe tray provided for waste disposal;
• contact of chicken with other animals and birds is limited, prevents infection with diseases;
• takes up little space;
• a water bowl is provided separately.

Drawings of successful options

For chickens, home-made aviaries are made in the form of a battery or an ordinary common cage. To make a battery cell, follow this instruction:

1. For the frame, cut out 6 pieces of material 170 cm long. Use metal or wood.
2. Three parts are placed opposite each other, fastened with perpendicular rails using self-tapping screws or nails.
3. Further, the resulting frame is upholstered with metal grating or plywood. You can sew up 2 sides with plywood, and 2 with mesh.
4. The side walls are made with mesh to establish good aeration. Feeders and drinkers are also installed in this place.
5. A door is made in the front of the net through which new individuals are planted.
6. A fine metal mesh is installed for the floor. It should be so shallow that the legs of the chickens do not fall through.
7. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws or nails.
8. Under the bottom of each floor attach a plastic tray so that it can be removed. It is designed to remove waste.
9. Feeders and drinkers are attached to the outer wall.
10. The roof is a plywood sheet or metal. In the heat, the metal heats up, so it is recommended to use plywood.

Important! The holes in the outer wall should be large so that the head and neck of the chicken can easily get to food and water.

Materials and tools

Making an aviary requires the use of certain materials and tools. Use the following:

• metal welded mesh;
• plywood;
• metal profile of medium thickness;
• mounts;
• drinkers;
• feeders;
• bars.

From the tools you will need a hammer, screwdriver, saw.

The use of materials is as follows:

• The metal frame is made of metal beams, the sides are fixed by welding.
• Support beams are installed from wooden bars between metal sticks, 4 pieces are spent on one tier.
• The walls are mounted from a metal or plastic grid.
• The roof is made hinged to make it easier to plant new individuals and remove old ones.
• Drinkers and feeders are installed inside the cage.

Aviary requirements

The requirement for aviaries includes the choice of premises for keeping chickens, lighting, air temperature, humidity, construction dimensions.

Cage room

Aviaries can be placed indoors or outdoors. To do this, observe the temperature standards. Indoors, 25-26 ° C is considered optimal. For placement on the street, in addition to the structure, wheels are screwed to take the chickens to fresh air. They monitor the temperature outside and weather conditions.

Lighting, temperature and air humidity

In the warm season, the room with broilers does not need heating. However, when raising chickens in winter, it requires the creation of optimal conditions for keeping chicks. The chicken will not survive frosts and even small frosts. The following equipment is used to maintain the required temperature:

• infrared lamps;
• electric lamps;
• stove heating.

Infrared lamps are placed above the enclosure itself, they cannot be placed inside, this will kill the birds. Lighting is provided around the clock.

Electric heating will require a lot of finance. The equipment itself costs a lot of money, as does the electricity itself. Also, power plants periodically experience failures, during which it is necessary to take measures to insulate the barn.

Stove heating is suitable for those who can constantly control the level of heat in the barn. Bourgeois stoves are installed in them, which are constantly supplied with firewood.

Humidity in the room should be high so that the chickens do not experience thirst, the optimal value is 80-90%.

Cage sizes for broilers

The standard size of a chicken cage is 2 meters long and 1.25 meters wide. Between tiers, a gap of 75 to 100 cm is observed. The number of placed individuals depends on their age. The younger the chicks, the more they fit. One standard aviary holds 20 chickens.

Making cells with your own hands

Chicken cage can be made at home. It does not require a lot of time and special skills. It is necessary to prepare the required material and tools. Manufacturing is carried out in several stages:

• Metal frame preparation.
• Drive in wooden beams to secure the pallet.
• Screwing a metal or plastic mesh to the walls.
• Making a wooden drop roof.
• Attach the fine mesh structure to the floor.
• Screwing a plastic tray with a sliding mechanism under the floor.
• Installation of feeders and drinkers.

What are they equipped with?

Growing batteries are equipped with bedding and protection against rodents, a drinker and a feeder are installed.

Litter and rodent protection

Leaving a fine mesh metal floor is not good for chickens. Therefore, it is recommended to create a soft bedding for them below, for example, to cover it with straw. To protect against rodents, a plastic pallet is screwed under the floor.

Installing drinkers and feeders

Drinkers and feeders are installed both inside and outside. If they are installed outside, it is necessary to provide openings for the neck and head of the broiler. This allows you to keep track of the food and water consumed by the birds. For such a diet, it is necessary that the owner is always nearby or often visits the aviary.

Installation of structures inside the cage provides for automatic supply of water and feed. This option is great for people who can't visit the barn too often.

Zootechnical regulations

For the successful cultivation of broilers, it is necessary to comply with zootechnical standards for their maintenance. These include:

• The optimum air temperature is 25-26 °С.
• Indoor humidity - 80-90%.
• Illumination - at least 8-10 hours of artificial or natural light per day.
• Water is changed every day.
• Specialized formulations for broilers are used for feeding.

Common mistakes

Several mistakes are made when making an aviary:

• Rodent protection required. The first tier is set 20 cm from the ground and a plastic pallet is screwed on. If this is not done, then part of the chickens will die from the attack of pests.

Using the wrong material for the walls of the enclosures. The walls and pallets must be moisture resistant, if you use PVC or chipboard, then over time they will swell and fall apart.

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