Page 93 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Cage poultry housing system: This system is mainly used for commercial egg
production. In this system, poultry are confined in compartments surrounded on all
sides by bars or wire. These compartments are called cages. The cage is large enough
to permit limited movement and allow a bird to stand and sit comfortably. The cages
are usually made up of strong galvanised wire and they can be fitted with stands on

floor of house or hanged from the roof. The number of birds per cage varies from 1
to 4 depending on cage size, size of the bird, and farmer’s preference. The cages are
arranged into rows or layers called tiers. The tiers can be 3 to 6. The recommended
size of a cage for one bird is 30 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm. The cage should have sloping
floor for easy rolling and collection of eggs. Feeders and drinkers are attached to
cages from outside except nipple drinkers where a pipeline is installed through
or above cages. In medium-scale egg production, feeding and eggs collection is
done manually. In large-scale poultry farms, auto-operated feeding trolleys and egg
collection belts can be used. Depending on type of cages, the droppings are collected

in trays fitted below the cages, on belts, on the floor or deep pit under cages. Figure
4.20 shows a section of cage poultry house.

Figure 4.20: Section of cage poultry house
Source: https://www.pd.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Hens-crammed-into-wire-cages-
800x500.gif

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