Broiler cage floor mesh sizes. DIY broiler cages

Growing meat-type chickens requires the creation of conditions for the birds under which the yield will be maximum. A feature of broilers is intensive fattening and rapid weight gain. Therefore, a chicken coop for broilers should be maximally adapted for the mass fattening of chickens up to 3-4 months.

Differences in chicken coops for broilers and layers

Broiler chickens gain their maximum weight by 3–4 months, after which slaughter occurs.

Therefore, the main features of the chicken coop for broilers are as follows:

availability of natural and artificial lighting;
lack of drafts;
does not need heating (when growing poultry from spring to autumn);
mandatory ventilation;
does not need nests;
you may need space for cages;
in cell cultivation - the presence of a feeder and drinker in each cell;
with outdoor cultivation - the presence of an aviary for walking.

The chicken coop for birds of egg breeds is additionally equipped with nests, and its size takes into account the content of small batches of chickens and adult birds.

Where to build on the site

Requirements for the location of the chicken coop on the site:

On the north side, the house should be covered from the wind by trees or another building. Accordingly, there should be free space on the south side.
If the landscape is uneven, then the chicken coop is set on a hill. In the lowlands, there is increased dampness, including from groundwater, so it will also be damp in the house, and this is harmful for broilers.

Did you know?The ancestors of modern chickens are the Banki chickens that live in India. Their natural weight does not exceed 1 kg. Meat breeds bred by man do not have the same disease resistance as wild ancestors, therefore, they need mandatory prevention of infectious and other diseases.

Designing and sizing

First of all, you need to decide on the method of growing broilers:

floor;
cellular.

With the floor version per 1 sq. m place 3-4 broilers. With cage placement, cages are installed in several tiers, and then in 1 section there can be from 10 to 30 heads. The minimum number of chickens in a cage is 10 pieces.
After determining the method of growing, it is necessary to measure the site for construction and find out the maximum possible size of the future poultry house.

General requirements for the premises:

The roof of the house must be gable. Snow does not accumulate on it, and it warms up faster by the sun.
The window should occupy at least 10% of the total wall area to provide sufficient natural light.
The insulation used to cover the walls must be moisture resistant, keep the air temperature inside the room well and be resistant to rodents and pests.
For year-round growing in a poultry house, it is desirable to equip a vestibule to limit the effect of cold air on the livestock.
If broilers are grown outdoors, then you will need to equip an aviary. It may be completed later.

Calculation of the dimensions of the room:

The standard height of the cage is 50 cm. When placing cages in 3 tiers, taking into account the minimum height from the floor of at least 60 cm, the minimum height of the house is 2.1–2.5 m.
The width of the chicken coop for broilers is at least 2.5 m, taking into account the width of the cages.
The minimum size of the vestibule is 1.5×1.5×2.1.

If you equip a walking aviary, then its dimensions are taken into account from the calculation: 4 broilers per 1 sq. m.

How to build a chicken coop for broilers with your own hands

The building of the chicken coop will consist of:

site preparation;
foundation markings;
foundation implementation;
installation of a chicken coop frame;
construction of buildings (floor, walls, roof);
insulation;
installation of lighting, ventilation, water supply systems;
installation of the internal equipment of the poultry house (cages or perches, feeders, drinkers).

Did you know?One of the largest meat breeds- brama. The average weight of a rooster of this breed- 7 kg. But there are also individuals of 10-12 kg.

Necessary materials

The poultry house can be built from wood materials, stone or brick. Each material has both advantages and disadvantages.
I would like to note the advantages of structures made of wood materials:

they are much cheaper than brick buildings;
they are easier to assemble and dismantle.

Regardless of the material chosen, the house still needs to be insulated to create a comfortable microclimate for growing chickens. For the construction will need a variety of materials.

For foundation:

sand and gravel for pillows;
pipes and fittings for columnar foundations;
concrete.

For the chicken coop:

beam;
wood boards for cladding;
boards, slats;
insulation;
bituminous mastic.

Tools for the job

Tools:

shovels and for transporting materials during the construction of the foundation;
hammer;
roulette;
construction cord, pegs for marking the foundation, brackets for fastening.

Step-by-step instruction

Before you start, prepare the tools for work, materials and once again check the dimensions on the drawing. Preparatory work during construction includes clearing a place for a chicken coop. The site is marked with pegs and a construction cord in accordance with the construction plan.

Did you know?Broilers- These are birds obtained by crossing several breed lines. Initially, these were the Cornish (paternal line) and Plymouthrock (maternal line) breeds.

A layer of soil under the foundation is removed - about 20 cm. The removed soil can be used to create flower beds or sprinkle beds on the site with it.

Foundation pouring and flooring

Foundation preparation consists of making holes for the foundation pipes, installing these pipes and creating a pillow of gravel and sand in the pit between the installed pipes. The thickness of the gravel pad is 20 cm. The interior of the pipes is filled with concrete. When the concrete hardens, a strapping from a floor beam is fixed on the reinforcement.
The grounding depth of the pipes is 1 m. The distance between them is at least 0.75 m. The pipe must rise above the level of the gravel-sand cushion by 0.2 m, and the fittings for attaching wall racks - by at least 0.25 m.
To put a strapping from a bar on the reinforcement, holes-grooves are drilled in it.
Waterproofing is laid on concrete pillars. It can be roofing material in 2-3 layers.
The beam is fastened with self-tapping screws.

Construction and insulation of walls

roof construction

The roof is made from solid wood. There are 2 options: with and without a small attic. The attic improves air exchange and helps to extend the life of wooden elements. For a roof with an attic, a roof deck is made of boards or slabs. Then the ceiling beams are installed and the coating is performed.

For a roof without an attic:

the main frame is attached to the pillars;
covered with board and insulation, as well as walls.

You can cover the finished roof with slate or metal tiles. When installing the roof, you also need to install ventilation pipes. Pipe height - 2 m, diameter - not less than 20 cm.

Arrangement of a chicken coop

Internal arrangement begins with the installation of a lighting and heating system for a nursery for small chickens (brooder). For winter breeding of broilers, a heating system is installed.

The walls are treated with lime, and the wooden surfaces are painted over. The window is covered with mesh. Ventilation ducts or vents should be equipped with a mosquito net, as insects are the most active carriers of pathogens.

If the birds will be kept in cages, then the racks are first formed and installed, and then the cages. They are equipped with internal or external feeders. Install an automated water supply system. If the birds are kept without cages, then they install perches, drinkers, feeders, and also equip a bath for ash baths.

Important!Do not use plastic and materials that are not resistant to moisture for lining poultry houses. Accumulating dampness, such material will serve as the basis for the development of mold and other fungi.

Separately, a nursery for chickens (brooder) is installed with air heating up to +35 ° С. The air temperature in the rest of the chicken coop should not fall below +12 ° C. If the temperature is too low, the broiler will use the energy received from the feed to maintain body temperature, and not to grow.

Video: practical tips for arranging a chicken coop

Installation of cages

When cage keeping poultry, it is necessary to form racks for cage sections. Cells can be ready-made, purchased or made from mesh. Cells are placed on metal or wooden racks in several tiers.

The minimum height of the cage is 50 cm. Increasing the height will provide the birds with a large volume of fresh air, which is important for disease prevention.

Feeders and drinkers

It would be optimal to place the feeders on the outside of the cages on special mounts. Feeders are made of polypropylene pipes or other material. The mesh size near the feeder should be 14 x 14 cm - this will provide broilers with more comfortable access to food.

Important!Nipple drinkers for day old chicks are equipped with a 3600 nipple that can move in any direction, and for older chicks with an 1800 nipple.

An automated system with drinkers is installed on the inside of the cage. Instead, vacuum drinkers can be equipped, but they will need to be installed in each cage.
Number of nipple drinkers - 1 pc. per cage of 10 broilers. The pressure on the entire water supply line must be the same.

bedding

The litter is a natural insulator that keeps the chick comfortable.

May consist of:

straw;
sawdust;
husks;
peat.

Requirements for bedding - good moisture absorption, low injury risk. The litter provides natural occupation of the bird and the implementation of natural reflexes - loosening and digging the soil. The thickness of the litter is at least 20 cm.

What else should be taken care of

To obtain the most productive indicators, it is imperative to observe the modes of temperature, humidity and air exchange in the room. To do this, artificial lighting, a ventilation system and a heating system are installed in the chicken coop.

Lighting

Lamps should illuminate the house evenly. According to sanitary standards, per 1 sq. m area should account for 4 watts of light. You can install conventional lamps, LED or energy-saving. Whichever lamps you install, the important factor will be the duration of the light, not the type of lamps.

Ventilation

The power of the ventilation system is 6 cubic meters. m per 1 kg of live weight. Ventilation can be made in the form of supply and exhaust pipes or with a fan.

The lack of oxygen can provoke disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system of chickens and lead to a decrease in the productive qualities of broilers. Air currents should not occur at the level of the chicks - this can cause colds.

Video: chicken coop ventilation Everyone can build a chicken coop for broilers with their own hands. The selection of materials for construction depends on your preferences, while high-quality building material is found in a fairly wide price range.

Did you know? According to studies by Aviagen and Cobb, lighting color does not have any significant effect on broiler weight gain.

Comfortable conditions for broilers will provide you with high productivity of livestock.

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Kira Stoletova

Growing broiler-type chickens presented in various photos and videos is quite a profitable occupation, you can build an excellent business on it, providing yourself and your family with a comfortable existence and the availability of fresh chicken meat every day. You need to start manufacturing small, that is, organize a small home-type poultry farm, make cages for broilers with your own hands in order to save initial financial investments.

Before you start buying poultry and start growing farm broilers in cages, you need to decide where it will be located, what mesh and equipment you need, and also understand how to make cages for broilers with your own hands. This will be discussed further. There is always a small amount of timber on the farm, plus the addition of making a drinker that is easy to make yourself. The net is purchased so that its dimensions correspond to the number of expected goals.

Requirements for cages for chickens

Cages for farm broiler chickens are not just metal fences, these are rooms in which the bird should feel comfortable and convenient. poultry farmers recommend adhering to all the rules, such as:

Planting Density
Permanent access to water
No drafts
Sufficient lighting
The presence of warm bedding on the floor and so on

If we are talking about a large poultry farm, then the content of the heads is block, the sizes of blocks or tiers can be simply huge, and in the industrial economy they are considering an automatic filling system for feeders and drinkers in order to simplify the process of caring for birds as much as possible.

In the conditions of home breeding of chickens, you can use more primitive cage structures, for example, batteries - a special structure of cages for chickens and find drawings of spacious cages for broilers. Based on the feedback from farmers, such a device helps to save on, as well as on bedding. Also, the battery helps to save space in the poultry house, while the person caring for the bird can easily take care of the broilers, that is, change the water, pour feed into the feeder, or replace the leaky one on the floor.

What cages are used in home farms

To make a cage for a broiler with your own hands, you need to use the standards that are used in poultry farming. They use these types of cages for broilers, made by hand, which differ in number and planting density.

Cage for 4 - 10 heads
For 12 - 20 individuals
For 20 - 40 chickens

When making a cage with their own hands as an economy, many make the mistake of making the equipment too bulky, trying to accommodate as many birds as possible in it, making huge feeders and drinkers when a simple design is suitable for several heads. This should not be done, because during use, when broilers live in cages, it turns out that such a cage design is extremely inconvenient. Thus, it is recommended to build cells in several blocks or batteries.

When planning a model, it is necessary to take into account the fact that chickens are heat-loving birds, that is, they require in winter. It is recommended to take this fact into account at the stage of planning a cage for broilers. Also keep in mind that it is better to start breeding birds in the spring, and in winter, on the contrary, it is better to thin out the rows of broilers, leaving the strongest and most persistent, a maximum of 12-15 individuals.

Cell material

Since several individuals live in a do-it-yourself broiler cage at once, it is worth considering that their total mass may not be small. For this reason, the first thing to take care of is that the structure must be strong. To do this, reinforcement is added to the base, it will hold strength. The standard thickness of the base must be at least 2 centimeters, while transverse reinforcement is strictly required. If everything is done correctly, then the cell can withstand up to 30-40 kilograms. For the walls of the cage, a not so thick material is chosen from which home-made cells are made in cages for broilers.

The material list looks like this:

Metal mesh, metal sheets with mesh
Metal plates for reinforcement
Plywood, slats for its fastening
Screws and nails

We will not list what tools will be needed to work on the cells, since, as a rule, every man has such a tool in his house.

How to make a cage for broilers, sizes and materials.

Cage for broilers. (part 1)

Budget cage for broilers / Do-it-yourself drinker

DIY broiler cage / step by step instructions

Broiler cage 1

Broiler cage // family food safety

DIY broiler cage

Detailed description of works

When you have a ready-made cage drawing on hand, where the needs of the birds and the ease of caring for them are thought out, you can begin to work directly on cutting and assembling parts. It is worth saying that the drawings can be developed independently, or you can find on the Internet those that will best meet your requirements, it can be both a photo and a video instruction.

Stages of work:

We create racks, there should be at least 6 of them, based on the following standard parameters: length - 150 centimeters, height - 7 cm, width - at least 2 cm;
When the racks are ready, you can start connecting work, that is, assemble them into a frame. In this case, several racks will be used: two with dimensions of 5 by 2 cm, six with dimensions of 3 by 2 and three with dimensions of 10 by 3 centimeters;
The side walls are usually made of plywood or wooden beams, as it is not expensive and simple. Focus on the size of 31 by 58 cm, their number should be equal to 9;
Be sure to consider when building a container for collecting garbage and waste; in poultry farming, pallets made of wicker lattice with a metal profile are used for this, they are durable and easy to use. The size of one pallet - length - 31 cm, height - 21 cm, width - at least 68 cm;
We start forming the roof, it is also made of plywood or wood, although a thin sheet of metal can also be used. Product dimensions should be as follows: 80 by 150 cm;
Please note that the part of the cage that faces the person must be covered with a net so that the bird can feed through these holes.

Advice from experienced poultry farmers. Those who have been breeding and raising chickens for more than a year recommend equipping broiler cages with wheels. This will greatly facilitate the process of cleaning up after the birds, as well as make the design maneuverable, that is, more convenient.

To organize the feeding and consumption of water by chickens, it is recommended to buy ready-made designs of feeders and drinkers, especially since their price is not high. You just have to install them in the right place, fixing them on strong brackets.

What you need to know about keeping chickens in cages

Now you know where to start breeding and raising broilers, namely, how to make a cage for chickens with your own hands, what it should be. We will find out what are the pros and cons that can accompany the cage growing of domestic broilers.

Such cages, formed into batteries, help save space, which is important if you are raising broilers at home;
Caring for birds is greatly simplified, as the system provides for a removable tray for litter and other waste;
Ease of assembly - if you follow the drawings and instructions, you can easily assemble the cage, as it is not difficult for any economic man;
These cages prevent hens from coming into contact with other birds, allowing healthy broiler stock to be raised.
Feeding is simplified as much as possible, since the process of filling feeders and drinkers takes place from the outside of the structure
Under conditions, it is possible to breed both day-old chicks and adult laying hens
The appearance of such structures is neat and compact.

It is worth saying that, despite the ease of assembly, the process takes a lot of time, you need to have a lot of free time left.
You will need to independently think over how the cage will be heated, as well as make lighting.

Now you know how to make a broiler cage yourself at home, without using the services of professionals. Cell content and equipment manufacturing can be viewed on the video. Of course, it will be up to you to decide whether to buy ready-made cells or try your hand.

To build cages for broilers personally means to significantly save on costs. This is normal practice. Many entrepreneurs resort to such a measure before buying poultry. In order for the cells to turn out the same as from the manufacturer, it is necessary to adhere to a specific plan.

Key points for erecting a cage for broilers

The construction of structures involves the use of reliable materials, requires care from the master, the availability of drawings and diagrams. Without a contour image of future products on paper with clear lines, perpendicular angles and various algebraic calculations, it will be difficult to solve the problem. Why do many do-it-yourself broiler cages fail during operation? They turn out to be unusable due to improper installation of heating systems or their absence, protruding nails, about which the birds are injured repeatedly. There are many factors that should not be. Doing everything according to the scheme, the designs will turn out no worse than those in the store.

For the construction of cages for broilers you will need:

Metal mesh, moderate in thickness. This is the main material. Provides sufficient air circulation and light supply.
Plywood. Multi-layer material for creating side walls.
Metal sheets. They will provide water and feed.
Nails, screws. They act as connectors.
Equipment. Heating technology.

These are the main components of cells for, which are distinguished by accessibility and ease of installation. They are inexpensive and easy to install. The amount of this or that material depends on the scale of poultry farming. A person puzzled by the idea of \u200b\u200bbreeding birds for profit will need at least 10 structures, with the expectation that each will contain 2-3 chickens.

To interact with the birds was convenient: feed, clean up after them, let them go for a walk, you will need as much free space as possible. Cages are best placed in a large, covered area. The main thing to remember is that space is a key necessity in the construction of the complex.

Blueprints

What do you need to make a quality cage for broilers with your own hands? Drawing. There is no point in getting started without plans.

Here are some easy options for you. The design is three-tiered and combines several cells at once.

The figures show: frame, walls, floor, ceiling, doors. It is calculated what length and width they should be, the distance between the partitions.

Doing everything according to these schemes, the master should get such a sample or a similar model:

Many make different cages for adult chickens and their offspring. If necessary, isolate the birds from each other, you should not resort to the construction of other options. It makes no sense to make other cages for broiler chickens with your own hands. For them, you can build the same structures as for adult chickens. This type of cage is well suited for both adult boilers. That's just the number of livestock in the cage will be different.

Numbers and calculations

Prepare wooden and metal structures for the frame. Keep in mind that the length of the racks should be more than 195 cm. The distance from the ground to the first tier is from 35 cm to 75 cm. The width of the frame is up to 2 m. The distance between the first and second row of cells should not exceed 6 cm. It is good if the slats will be - 3.5-4 cm.

In the first picture, you can see that the front mesh wall is divided into several sections, and in the last picture it acts as one solid structure. Both options are good in their own way. It already depends on the convenience and personal preferences of each. However, a wall without disconnecting parts will be easier to install. It does not require the installation of separate wooden frames and other details. During the construction process, it will not be a hassle. But, during operation, it is more convenient to open several doors at once, so as not to put your hand far into the cage, if necessary, get a specific bird.

Before you make cages for broilers with your own hands, you need to acquire high-quality materials. Used wooden pallets must be dry and without defects. It is better to cover the wood on which the systems themselves will hold with special paints and varnishes. Such a measure is needed to prevent decay and exposure to microorganisms, insects, and small rodents.

The dimensions of the structures themselves

What should be the size of the cages for broilers? The drawings show which standards are best adhered to.

Optimal performance:

The height of the cell ceilings is 30-59 cm.
Mesh length - 45 cm.
Mesh width - 20 cm.
The length of the wooden partitions for the lower part of the cages is 50 cm.
Their width is 5 cm.
The height of wooden partitions for each tier is 61 cm.
Their width is 3-4 cm.

Work plan

Stick to a clearly defined script:

Make six racks according to the measurements above.
Connect the finished structures into a frame.
Use plywood for nine walls. Dimensions: 31×58 cm (width×height).
To collect eggs, as in image 3, use metal pallets.
Roof made of plywood or metal sheet. Width 70 cm. Length 141 cm.

To make cages for broiler chickens suitable for operation in the winter, purchase heating systems. When installed, they should be on the sides of each tier. In a cold room, the air temperature should not be lower than 20˚С.

In order not to do it yourself and not mess around with the cage once again, you can buy finished products. Feeders are held with brackets, as in the images. Use pallets to quickly collect waste. As connecting parts, choose nails, screws. Resort to the use of a self-tapping screw, a screwdriver.

The net for broiler cages you purchased should be able to withstand 25-30 kg. When choosing a material, check with the seller for its maximum load. It should also be such that chickens can stick their heads out through it to eat food or drink water. It is important.

Before placing in bird cages, it is necessary to check if nails, edges of metal sheets stick out.

Video example of making a cage for broilers with your own hands

In literal translation from English, the word "broiler" means "to fry". The fact is that this term refers to chickens up to eight weeks old, whose average weight is 1.3 kg. Only young chickens of meat breeds have the highest growth rate. But in order to achieve such a high rate, broilers should be properly bred.

In addition to proper balanced nutrition, natural bird keeping is necessary for rapid growth. Consider how you can make your own broiler cages, as well as what equipment, lighting and placement should be used in such cages.

Requirements for cages for growing broilers

There are two main approaches to growing broilers - keeping them in a cage or on the floor. For quick weight gain and easy bird care, it is recommended to keep broilers in cages.

Such cages, first of all, should be easy to maintain. Depending on the number of broilers, you need to purchase or make your own cage of a suitable size. The size of the cage is calculated based on one square meter per 10 individuals.

Lighting

Until day 20, chicks should be kept under lights at all times. After that, you should turn off the light every day, first for half an hour, then for an hour, until the daylight hours for chickens reach 16 hours. In this mode, broilers should be until the slaughter.
Yulia Petrichenko, expert

In this case, the light intensity should also gradually decrease. The first 10 days of the life of chickens, it should be 4 W per square meter, until the 20th day - 2 W, and after the 20th, you can reduce the figure to 1 W.

Cell placement

Cages for broilers should be placed exclusively in a warm and dry room, without drafts and dampness. If necessary, a certain temperature regime is maintained using various heat sources, for example, heating pads or electric lamps. In summer, adults can be kept outdoors, but the cages must be under a canopy. In bad weather, they should be removed in a warm and dry place. Therefore, for ease of transportation, wheels can be attached to the cages.

Cell maintenance

It is recommended that broiler chicks up to 30 days of age be kept in cages on mesh shelves, which should be attached to the top guide rail. Chicks up to 20 days of age should be kept in the upper cages, where a higher temperature is maintained. Electric lamps are additionally installed to provide heating of the cage. Before 10 days of age, broilers should be lined with paper on the shelves daily, and the droppings should be removed from the pallet at least once a day. To keep the cage room clean and fresh, cleaning can be done more frequently.

Cages for broiler chickens

In the manufacture of cages for broiler chickens, it should be borne in mind that there should be at least a meter square of the cage for 10 heads.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of materials. The fact is that a rather large weight will be placed on a small area, so you need to further strengthen the structure. The flooring must be at least 2 cm thick. Additional diagonal reinforcement is also required.

The most common types of cells include:

for 10 goals - KK-10;
for 20 goals - KK-20;
for 30 goals - KK-30.

Do-it-yourself cell battery for broilers

For the convenience of keeping meat breeds of chickens, a cellular battery is used. With proper skill and the availability of the necessary materials and tools, it can be made by hand. Consider what a cell battery is, what tools and materials are needed, and how to make it yourself.

What is a chicken cage battery

Many veterinarians argue that safe and complete breeding of meat breeds is possible only in cages. However, the use of a caged battery has also been proven to achieve veterinary safety. This design was invented by Russian craftsmen. For its manufacture, metal plates, plywood, slats and screws are required. The cellular battery includes six cells. Eight chickens are placed in each cage. This design can only be used for keeping broilers.

Drawings of cages for broilers

Drawings and photos of cells will help you make your own cell battery for keeping broilers. The photo shows a cage that is suitable for rearing both small chickens and adult birds to slaughter.

Tools and materials

Broiler cages do not require expensive materials. And for work you will need tools that are in the arsenal of every homeowner.

Materials for the manufacture of cells:

metal grid;
plywood sheets;
wooden slats;
metal sheets;
screws;
metal reinforcing plates.

How to make a cell battery - instructions

First of all, the supports of the cell battery are made. For this, 6 racks are used, 16.5 cm long. The sectional size of the racks should be 70x20 mm. It is also necessary to use rails 1.4 meters long, three of which have a section of 100x20 mm, and two - 50x20 mm.

As a cage cover, you can use a sheet of plywood, the length of which is 70 cm and the width is 140. Plywood sheets are also used to make the side walls of the battery.

An obligatory element of the cellular battery are special pallets used to collect bird droppings. For manufacturing, you can use both plywood and metal sheets. Pallets should have sides, about 2 cm high, so that bird droppings remain inside. Plywood pallets are easier to make and easier to change. However, metal ones are better washed and more durable.

The rest of the cage should be made of a large enough mesh so that the chickens can stick their heads out for drinking and eating. Trays and drinkers should be supported by rack rails, the cross section of which is 20x20 mm. Therefore, you will need 66 cm slats in the amount of 54 pieces.

If desired, it is additionally possible to equip the cage battery for broilers with wheels. This will allow you to take them out into the fresh air in the summer, as well as easily move the cages if necessary.

Pallets and drinkers can be purchased ready-made, or you can make your own. To make drinkers, you can use tin sheets. And to fix the feeders and drinkers, brackets should be used.

This option for making a battery of cells is the easiest option for growing broilers at home.

How to make a cage for broiler chickens

An aviary cage is a structure for keeping broiler chickens. In such a cage, the chickens are on a mesh floor. This design can have both one and several tiers. Three or more tiers save space and make bird care as simple and convenient as possible.

Drawings and dimensions of the aviary

The aviary for broilers is a large cage, the size of which is 2 by 1.25 meters. At the same time, drinking bowls for birds are located at the edges, and there is a tray under the cage. In such an aviary, up to 10 large individuals and several times more chickens can be placed.

Materials and tools

Making a cage for broiler chickens is not much more difficult than making ordinary cages. Simple tools that are in the household of every summer resident or villager, as well as materials that are easy to find on sale, will come in handy for work.

The main materials for the manufacture of cage-aviary:

large metal mesh;
large sheets of plywood;
reinforcing plates;
metal rails;
sheets of metal;
metal pipes or plates for legs;
screws.

Step-by-step instructions for making a aviary cage for chickens

First, let's make a frame. For its manufacture, metal sheets are required. If the aviary is on legs for the convenience of bird care, then they should be made of a metal pipe or plates. Metal rails are used to connect all structural elements.

The side walls of the aviary are made of metal mesh with holes large enough so that the birds can reach the feeders and drinkers. Don't forget to put in the litter trays. They can be purchased, or you can make your own from metal sheets. It is very important that the pallets have high enough sides so that the manure remains in them. Place a sheet of plywood on top. Make drinkers and feeders from metal sheets.

Broiler cage equipment

It is not enough to build a high-quality and convenient cage for broilers. For breeding birds, you should also purchase or independently make additional equipment for the cage. Consider how to make feeders, drinkers and other equipment so that the cage is easy to maintain and comfortable for birds.

Reservoir for drinkers. You can even make it from an empty plastic bottle. A nipple should be located at the end of the bottle so that the bird can easily and comfortably drink. A nipple-type drinker can also be connected to a water supply or to a sufficiently large container. For a cage with a large number of birds, the volume of the water tank should be at least 5 liters. At the same time, the presence of water should be checked daily, if possible, change the water and wash the tank.
feeder. When installing and choosing a feeder, preference should be given to those that can be positioned so that only a small part of the feeder is inside the cage, and the rest of the feeder is outside. This will make it easy to fill the feeder, as well as clean it if necessary. For example, you can make feeders from a PVC pipe by sawing it along. Install it behind the cage and secure it carefully. This way the hens will be able to stick their heads out to eat without spilling the feed.
Pallet. To collect droppings, feathers and other debris, a tray should be installed under the cage. It can be purchased separately, focusing on the size of the cage, or you can make it yourself. For its manufacture, metal sheets or plywood are most often used. You can also assemble a pallet from the bars. To do this, a frame of the same perimeter as a cage is made, a sheet of plywood or fiberboard is laid on top and nailed. It remains only to lay inside with linoleum or other material that is easy to clean.
Lighting. Proper lighting is very important in cage rearing broilers. Placing lighting fixtures in the aisles of the cage is not the most effective option, because additional equipment will create shadows, and the light will be distributed unevenly. Therefore, it is recommended to use LED lighting. For example, a 2 meter long LED lamp provides enough light for a 3 meter cage. In this case, the light is distributed evenly over the entire width of the cage. Such lamps can be purchased, or you can make your own.

Making cages for breeding broilers will make keeping chickens as convenient as possible. In addition to making cages or aviaries, you will need to purchase or make your own drinkers, feeders, lighting fixtures and pallets.

If you have been making cages for broilers yourself, share your experience in the comments. You can also offer readers original drawings of bird cages or original ideas for making equipment for cages.