The cell content of chickens is one of the options for growing poultry, which has many advantages. This method of breeding is beneficial both in large-scale production and in a private compound. In this article, we will consider a whole range of technical standards that cell construction must meet. In addition, you will learn how to make lattice nests using the materials available in the back room.

Design features

Focusing on your financial situation and the goals of breeding birds, you must decide on the type of cell structure. For example, nests for layers are radically different from options for broilers.

But before we begin to consider the types of cells, we will talk about the positive and negative aspects of the indoor cultivation of birds.

Pros

Adherents of closed poultry farming argue their opinion that the cells solve a lot of problems that are difficult to cope with when grown freely.

• Among the advantages of closed poultry farming are the following:
• economical consumption of space and energy resources;
• feed saving;
• the opportunity to get fresh eggs all year round;
• ensuring the safety of eggs;
• improvement of feeding, drinking and servicing procedures for individuals;
• it is possible at any time to inspect the livestock;
• veterinary supervision of each chicken;
• if necessary, sick and weak individuals can be isolated;
• the possibility of organizing a comfortable environment and microclimate for birds.

Minuses

• In addition to the fact that the cultivation of birds in cells requires significant financial investments, this method has other disadvantages:
• lack of sunlight (farmers have to make up for the lack of vitamin D in the form of food additives);
• stiffness in movement and, as a result, a reduction in the egg period;
• deficiency of natural feeds (the lack of food such as grass and insects has to be supplemented with mineral additives);
• rapid development of infection (since the infected individual is in close contact with other birds, harmful microorganisms are rapidly spreading among the livestock).

Did you know? In February 1956, a chicken named Blanche laid an egg weighing 454 g. Moreover, the egg had 2 yolks and a double shell.

Views

All cellular structures are divided into 2 large types:

1. With bedding. This type is a structure with a deaf floor, covered with sawdust or straw.
2. With egg collector and sloping flooring. The cage has a double deck, where the grill acts as the upper part, and the solid lower part is equipped with a retractable container (pallet). Due to the slope of the bottom, the eggs roll into a special mesh with recesses.

Cell requirements

The maintenance of layers in a confined space implies compliance with a number of zootechnical standards.

Dimensions

According to the standard for 1 square. m should be placed from 2 to 8 goals. The optimal height of 1 cell is 45 cm, the depth is 50-60 cm, the width is 60-120 cm (corresponding to the number of individuals). In closer homes, the chickens will be uncomfortable: hens will feel anxiety, feuds and clashes are possible, and egg production will decline.

At the same time, in too wide cells, the flooring is prone to bending, and the bowel tray becomes too heavy.

Keep all these guidelines in mind before drawing cell designs.

Lighting

The duration of daylight hours in the warm season should be 16–20 hours (respectively, the growth rate and eating the feed). In an unnatural environment for birds, an important role is played by proper forced lighting. In the winter months, birds require artificial light sources.

A lesser trauma to the psyche of chickens is facilitated by a system of smooth feeding and smooth turning off the light. In addition, this method has a positive effect on egg production.

Important! It is categorically unacceptable to use 1 lamp per chicken house (that is, a centralized supply of light). It is necessary to equip so many light sources so that each cell is evenly lit.

Temperature and humidity

Air temperature in poultry dwellings should be kept at the level of 16–18 ° С, and humidity should be in the range of 50–70%.The humidity level directly affects the functioning of the respiratory organs of layers and, accordingly, the well-being of birds. In addition, at high humidity in summer, the temperature is perceived by the hens as being higher, and low humidity causes a significant loss of fluid in their body.

How to make chicken cages on your own

Building cells for quotes is easy. It is advisable to draw up rough sketches in advance - they will help not to get confused during the construction process.

Materials and tools for work

So, for the manufacture of cells you need to collect the following materials:

1. Sliced ​​wood beam 40 × 40 mm or 40 × 50 mm, length 3 m - 5 pcs.
2. Sliced ​​wood beam 20 × 40 mm, length 3 m - 2 pcs.
3. A metal mesh 1 m wide with a mesh size of 15 × 15 mm to 25 × 25 mm: 2 cards with dimensions of 0.5 × 2 m or a roll of 3 running meters.
4. Steel grating 1 m wide with a mesh size of 50 × 100 mm: 1 card with dimensions of 0.5 × 2 m or roll - 1 running meter.
5. Steel corners and awnings.
6. Galvanized wood screws and self-tapping screws - “bugs” with a big hat.
7. Sheet metal 1–1.5 mm thick or a finished plastic tray.
8. Galvanized sheet.

Tools Required:

• pencil or marker;
• hacksaw;
• screwdriver;
• Bulgarian;
• roulette, level, square;
• sandpaper.

Do-it-yourself hut cage: video

Manufacturing steps

1. Mark and cut the materials for the frame. Saw the prepared 40 × 40 mm bars with an electric jigsaw or a hacksaw according to the drawing (see below). The ends must be cleaned with a sandpaper.
2. Using galvanized screws and corners, assemble the frame. To place the lower pallet, install a grating of 20 × 40 mm timber. From a 20 × 40 mm timber, make the door frame.

3. Next, you need to make a grating floor. To do this, cut the steel fine-mesh mesh according to the drawing (see below), bend its front edge so as to get the shape of the tray. To strengthen the floor, it is worthwhile additionally adjusting the transverse supports of the 20 × 40 mm timber with a distance between them of at least 20 cm. The timber should be covered with a disinfectant. Attach the mesh to the beam using self-tapping bugs.

4. Sheathe the side and back walls with steel mesh, securing it with self-tapping bugs.

5. Cover the front wall, which will also serve as a door, with a 50 × 50 cm grid, also fixing it with self-tapping screws. It would be better to make the door folding. And to lock the door, fix the latches on it.
6. Build a roof from a lattice, plywood with moisture-resistant properties or OSB. Attach details with self-tapping screws.

7. From galvanized iron, make a tray tray according to the size of the bottom of the cell. Bend its front edge so that it looks like a handle. Place the tray on the deck of the timber. So, homemade cells for hens are ready.

How to equip cells

In general, chickens are unpretentious, but for the best productivity it is important to provide them with as comfortable conditions as possible. Your task is to properly equip the cells.

Litter and protection against rodents

In winter, it is important to take care of the litter for birds. Most poultry farmers provide their wards with a deep litter. They make it from dry sawdust, hay and straw, dried foliage or dry moss. First, sprinkle the flooring with hydrated lime for disinfection, and then cover with a layer of the selected material about 15 cm thick.

Installation of feeders and drinking bowls

Another important step is the installation of automatic feeders and nipple drinkers. Approximately 10 cm of a feeding trough should be allocated to one feathered. Tanks can be easily removed, which is very practical - if necessary, devices can be quickly repaired.

As for drinking bowls, they are fixed inside the cells on the grate. Watering front - 5 birds per 1 nipple, or 2 cm capacity per 1 bird.In winter, feeders and drinking bowls are deepened directly into the litter. This technique helps keep the water and feed warm.

Cell care

The main task in breeding domesticated birds is to conduct appropriate sanitary measures (periodic cleaning and disinfection of cells).

Vessels for feed and water should also be washed regularly. The water in the drinker is quickly polluted and stagnates, therefore, as necessary, it is replaced with fresh.

In the cold months, most of the time, hens are indoors, as a result of which litter begins to accumulate on the floor and dampness appears. To collect stool under the net flooring, you can install a special pan.

Since hens freeze up, become sick and poorly carried when humidity is high, the litter should be kept dry. You can not change it throughout the year, but as it becomes dirty, you need to add fresh layers of insulation, gradually bringing the thickness to 25 cm.

In addition, the litter must be periodically loosened. If it is very damp, then sprinkle it with superphosphate - 0.5 kg per 2 square meters. m

Important! At the stage of designing a project, it is important to ensure that the cell is at a certain elevation. Do not allow the heat insulator to come into contact with the ground, as this is fraught with the appearance of rodents. Rats can gnaw wood and crawl into the structure.

Cages

In conclusion, let us once again recall the basic rules for breeding hens in trellised cells and the difficulties that farmers can face. First of all, homes should be kept dry. The barn itself must be protected from drafts and high humidity so that the hens do not get sick or die.Within 1 hour, the air in the barn should be updated at least 3 times. For this, professional fans with the function of regulating the flow of clean air have been created.

On large farms can not do without additional exhaust ventilation. Such a system will provide clean air and, if necessary, lower temperature indicators.

The diet of birds living in a closed environment is enriched with mineral and organic additives. A variety of vegetable fats, cereals, salt, organic matter, calcium carbonate and sunflower meal are certainly included in the daily diet.

The optimal solution may be to supply chickens with special combined feeds. And finally, birds must certainly have constant access to fresh and clean water.

Did you know? Some people suffer from elektrophobia (alektorophobia) - an obsessive fear of chickens and chickens.

Cell drawings

Cells for birds are usually made group. One structure is designed for a small number of chickens - from 7 to 10. In large farms, in order to facilitate care, several rows and tiers of such cages are built.

Cage drawing with egg collector and sloping flooring

Summarizing, we note that raising chickens on a small farm is not only cost-effective, but also interesting. We hope that our recommendations will help you to significantly improve the process of keeping quotes, which will ultimately positively affect their well-being and extend the period of egg production.