Chicken farming has many different approaches when it comes to rearing hens. They are usually kept in cages, sometimes too small. But is this actually the best way to care for them? So, how exactly do these cages work, and what alternatives do we have for our hens?
Conventional cages are small, wire cages that house just a few hens at a time. These cages also supply the hens with food and water, and a place for them to lay their eggs. It does mean, however, the cages are extremely small, so the hens cannot move around at all. They don’t have the space to stretch their wings or to perch as they would in nature. That can be extremely uncomfortable for them.
Commercial egg-laying hens are typically housed in massive buildings that can hold thousands of other birds. Typically these buildings are loud and crowded, making it difficult for the hens to feel relaxed. They may also have trouble breathing due to the poor air quality. Inside these buildings, the hens have hardly any room to move. They tend to be closely packed, with a small footprint in which to stand. This means they have no space to stretch their wings — critical to their health and well-being. These buildings can over kill the lighting which may interfere with their sleep pattern and can be stressful for their minds. Many hens raised this way develop health problems, and they can become aggressive toward one another when they feel confined and uncomfortable.
Confinement in conventional cages can profoundly compromise the health and welfare of hens. Due to limited space and minimal choice of movement, they are prone to weak muscles, bone diseases, and also loss of feathers. When hens are raised in such unnatural conditions, they tend to be extremely stressed, bored and aggressive. They're unable to exercise due to the constant shortage of room, and as a result, they routinely become overweight and susceptible to sickening. We do not want this for our hens because they deserve to be healthy and happy.
Hens naturally engage in behaviors that play an important role in their health and happiness. They should be able to perch, scratch at the ground, dust-bathe and hang out with other hens. Sadly, conventional cages fail to provide hens with the opportunity to express these innate behaviors. This causes the hens to feel stressed and frustrated. Deprived of normal behavior, they can develop behavior problems, from pecking one another’s feathers to cannibalism. Moreover, traditional cages also lack any type of environmental enrichment such as hay bales or perches to keep the hens occupied and mentally stimulated.
Good news: A growing number of farmers are seeking better, humane ways to raise chickens. Some farmers use different housing systems, like free-range, aviary and enriched cages. Such systems give hens much more space and the opportunity to engage in their natural behaviors. In free-range systems, for instance, hens are able to have access to the outdoors and forage for foods, a behavior they would engage in in the wild. Hens can fly and perch in aviary systems, so they can spread their wings and get exercise. Hens that live in enriched cages are given access to perches, nest boxes and litter they can scratch and dust-bathe in, which makes their home a much more pleasant place.
Alternative methods of housing are also available, but we take care to choose an option that allows our hens to be happy and healthy. We masterplan free-range and enriched cage systems which give our hens enough space and environmental enrichment to express their natural behaviors. We believe that providing our hens with a natural and happy environment is the right thing to do, so they lead a healthy life. Not only does this make it a good deal for the hens but it produces higher quality eggs for our customers, which is what we are working for!
Qingdao Hemei Machinery provide complete solutions for poultry farming projects. Professional design will satisfy your needs in poultry production.
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No. 177, Guhe street, Jiaozhou, Qingdao, China
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