Advantages of Battery Housing System in Poultry

Battery cages are a housing system used for various animal production methods, but primarily for egg-laying hens. The name arises from the arrangement of rows and columns of identical cages connected together in a unit, as a  battery. Although the term is usually applied to poultry farming, similar cage systems are used for other small animals. An early battery cages appears in Milton Arndt’s 1931 book, Battery Brooding, where he reported that cage flock was healthier and had higher egg production than his conventional flock.

The main advantages of battery cages for laying hens over alternative husbandry systems are:

1. It increases hygiene resulting in a much lower incidence of diseases.
2. Being small group size resulting in a low incidence of social friction
3. Management becomes easier.
4. No litter problems.
5. Working conditions are good.
6. Decreases cost of production.

Poultry Battery Cages for Chicken Production

In chicken rearing, battery systems have certain beneficial impact on poultry farming in the following ways discussed below—-

1. Increases Egg Production
   Healthy birds will significantly become more productive than chickens reared in environments that do not boost their health. Enriched battery cages increase the potential of egg production. The chickens have more tendencies to produce eggs in battery cages as compared to other rearing systems. It is more advisable to use battery cages to increases egg production.
2. Boosts the Health of Chickens
   There are fewer incidences of diseases and parasite infestation with hens kept in a battery cage system. Battery cages are very good means of accommodating the chickens in healthy conditions that will boost their production. The superior quality battery cages are designed to outweigh an ordinary wire mesh cage. The wire floor is designed to allow manure go through it, taking it away from the chickens surroundings and eventually minimizing the risks of manure-borne diseases. This will keep the chickens healthy and make chicken rearing a task worthwhile for the poultry farmer.
3. Quality Feeding For birds
   The battery cage system makes feeding for birds a habitual process. This is because the birds are fed through a long bisected metal or plastic pipe and water is served to them with overhead nipple systems which are set before the birds. This makes it easy for the poultry farmer to care for the birds with adequate food. Birds are well-catered for in battery cages and this makes them healthier and more productive.
4. Minimizes Cost of Labour
   Battery cage reduces labour. This is because the birds are well-organized and conducted to be in rows with several facilities for their feeding, carriers of their faeces droppings adequately positioned. The poultry farmer will simply do the job of pouring food and water in the designated areas, cleaning the faeces that drop and packing the eggs.  This reduces stress for the farmer and need to employ many workers for poultry farms will be minimized.
5. Minimize Feed Spillage
   Battery cages make it easy for poultry farmers to care adequately for their chickens. The battery cages help poultry farmers to minimize feed. It is easy to minimize feed spillage with battery cages because they are designed with standard accessories for holding food and water, especially the amount required for feeding the chickens daily. This disallows any form of feed spillage and wastage. Instead of feed spillage, the chickens keep feeding on the required amount of food specifically provided in front of them.
6. Affordable and more durable
   Poultry battery cages are quite affordable for beginners and experienced poultry farmers who need to give this method of rearing chickens a trial. It is cost effective and more efficient. Besides being affordable, poultry battery cages are durable because they have wire mesh made of galvanized iron which keeps them from rusting and makes them last for a lengthy period of time. It is not just durable but suitable for all egg-laying chicken types such as breeders, layers, point-of-lay and point-of-cage chickens.

There are fewer incidences of diseases and parasite infestation with hens kept in a battery cage system. Battery cages can be kept in climate controlled barns, removing the seasonal climatic stressors.