Cage Free Aviary System
Cage-free housing systems come in three main types: Pan Feeding System, Plastic Poultry Flooring, and Multi-Tier Aviary System. Each is carefully designed to support hens’ natural behaviors—with private nests, free access to feed and water, perches, and open areas for scratching, foraging, and dust bathing.
Pan feeding system is an automated feed delivery setup that distributes feed evenly to hens via multiple pan feeders, ensuring efficient and uniform feeding.
Plastic poultry flooring provides durable, ventilated flooring that promotes hen comfort and hygiene while supporting efficient manure management in cage-free systems.
Multi-tier aviary system maximizes space by providing multiple levels for feeding, nesting, perching, and natural hen behaviors in cage-free housing.
Types of Cage-Free Aviary Systems for Layers
Based on industry experience, we have systematically outlined the common types of cage-free aviary systems to help you choose the most suitable solution for your layer farming needs.
1. Pan Feeding System
The Pan Feeding System consists of key components such as a hopper, feed pipes, screw conveyors, pan feeders, suspension lifting devices, drive motors, and feed level sensors. The system delivers feed from the hopper to each pan feeder, ensuring uniform and timely access to feed for laying hens. Automated operation relies on sensors that monitor feed quantity to control motor start and stop, ensuring efficient feed delivery. This system is suitable for single-tier and hybrid cage-free environments, helping to reduce feed waste and improve farming efficiency.
Features of Pan Feeders for Poultry
- Highly automated can save labor and cost.
- PP(Polypropylene) material, firm and durable, corrosion resistant, long service life.
- The V-shaped feed pan can decrease the surplus of feed to ensure the freshness of food.
- The edge of the feed pan is slanted towards the middle to avoid spilled feed causing waste.
- Adjustable feeding height to satisfy the needs of different stages of the chicken growth.
- A smooth inward-sloping outer edge prevents crop damage and provides comfortable eating for chickens.
Component of Poultry Pan Feeding System
| Part | Specification |
|---|---|
| Motor | Taiwan brand Protection class: IP55 Power: 0.75kw/1.1kw Rate voltage: 380v/220v/110v three phase/single phase Frequency: 50HZ/60HZ |
| Sensor | Imported from Germany or made in China |
| Spiral conveyor | Diameter: 36mm Imported from South Africa High-carbon manganese steel |
| Vice hopper | Size: 60 60/80 80 Material: hot-dip galvanized sheet |
| Feeder | Diameter: 330mm Material: PP Grids: 14/16 Feeding quantity: 40-50 chickens per pan |
| Pulley | Material: cast iron Diameter: 9cm |
| Winch | Material: cast iron MRS3000 |
| Steel wire rope | Diameter of rope: 5mm, 3mm, 1.5mm |
| Delivery pipe | Feed pipe: 3/4 holes per 3m Diameter: 45mm Material: galvanized sheet with coating 275g/m2 Thickness: 1.2mm |
| Control box | Control pan feeding system |
Details of the Automatic Pan Feeding System
2. Plastic Poultry Flooring System
Commercial egg and broiler chicken farming still primarily relies on cage systems in many regions. However, with Europe set to ban cage housing by 2027, the demand for cage-free systems is steadily increasing. In response to this trend, ABC Machinery not only offers traditional tiered cage solutions but also focuses on developing and promoting diverse cage-free housing systems. Among these, poultry flooring systems play a key role in cage-free farming and mainly include deep litter systems and plastic slatted floors.
Deep Litter Housing System:
This system is primarily used for broiler chicken farming. The poultry house is usually constructed with earth or bricks, with an 8 to 10 cm thick layer of litter spread on the floor. Common litter materials include sawdust, rice hulls, chopped wheat straw, or rice straw. Generally, at the end of each production cycle, the litter along with the manure is removed and replaced.
Plastic Poultry Slatted Flooring:
The plastic slatted flooring covers the entire poultry house area and is elevated approximately 70 cm above the ground. The flock lives on the flooring, while manure falls through the slats into a manure removal system below, which helps effectively control the spread of diseases. The slatted flooring consists of multiple panels made from impact-resistant and wear-resistant polypropylene plastic. Its structure includes the slatted floor panels, beams, base supports, and pipes. Installation is straightforward—simply place the slats on the beams, which are then supported by legs combined with pipes and bases. The number of slatted panels depends on the size of the poultry house. You can provide your poultry house’s length and width, and our designers will offer a free customized plan and quotation.
Features of Pan Feeders for Poultry
- The plastic slatted floor is easy to install. The plastic-slatted floor provides easy manure drop-off and manure cleaning.
- Provides a hygienic environment for chickens and avoids egg contamination.
- Better protection of chickens' paws and legs because there is no burr on the plastic-slatted floor.
- The supporting leg is adjustable to ensure the same level of the plastic slatted floor on uneven ground.
- Reinforced and anti-aging PVC material makes the beam sturdy and durable, anti-rust and anti-corrosion.
- Adjustable leg height range:400~500 mm(according to customer’s requirement).
Specification of Plastic Slatted Floor
| Product Name | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Color | Nickel white |
| Size | 1200*500*40mm |
| Weight | 2.3kg or 2 kg |
| Grid size | 20*24mm or 16*16mm |
| Beam material | PVC or FRP |
| Tube diameter | 50mm |
3. Multi-Tier Aviary System
The aviary system is basically a multi-level, cage-free setup designed for large-scale layer farms. Just like plastic slatted flooring, it allows laying hens to move around freely and express their natural behaviors. Compared to traditional cages, aviaries give hens more freedom to walk, perch, nest, dust bathe, forage, and even socialize. This helps keep the birds healthier and often leads to better egg production.
Aviary System Benefits for Chickens
- Multi-Tier Design: Allows hens to move both vertically and horizontally, reducing crowding and improving ventilation.
- Multiple Perches: Enable hens to perch at different heights during the day and rest higher at night, lowering stress and improving sleep quality.
- Less Aggression: Cage-free hens show fewer behaviors like pecking, chasing, and bullying.
- Open Structure: Provides space for hens to walk, run, fly, and scratch naturally.
- Automatic Feeding: Chain-type system delivers feed accurately and efficiently at all times.
- Nipple Drinkers: Each tier has drinkers for easy access, minimizing water waste.
- Manure Cleaning: Manure belts under each level automatically collect and remove waste.
- Egg Collection: Conveyor belts transfer eggs directly to the collection system.
- Sloped Wire Decks: Help guide mislaid eggs to designated collection areas.
Aviary System Benefits for Chickens
Multi-Tier Design
The multi-level structure allows hens to move freely both vertically and horizontally, effectively reducing bird crowding and hot spot formation. This improves ventilation and the overall climate within the house.
Multiple Perches
The system thoughtfully includes perches at varying heights, enabling hens to freely walk on them during the day and comfortably rest at higher levels at night, which helps significantly reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
Reduced Aggressive Behavior
In an open and free environment, aggressive behaviors such as pecking, chasing, fighting, bullying, and food or water guarding are greatly reduced, thereby effectively promoting long-term group stability.
Open Structure
The aviary is designed with an open layout, allowing laying hens not only to walk, jump, and fly on perches, but also to scratch and run on litter-covered floors, fully expressing their natural behaviors.
- Efficient Space Use & Higher Production
The multi-tier aviary system maximizes vertical space, raising more hens with less stress, boosting egg yield and profits. - Improved Egg Quality
Designated nests reduce dirty and broken eggs, ensuring better egg quality. - Automated & Easy Management
Automated feeding, watering, and egg collection reduce labor, while open design allows easy health monitoring. - Better Environment & Disease Control
Manure systems improve air quality; nipple drinkers minimize water waste and disease risks. - Animal Welfare & Sustainability
Complies with welfare laws, expands activity space, promotes natural manure breakdown, and lowers environmental impact. - Long-Term Benefits
Healthier flocks last longer and need less frequent replacement, balancing profit with sustainability.
Recent Aviary Housing Project
In 2023, a laying hen aviary system was successfully exported to the Netherlands. The design and construction of this aviary system strictly complied with local animal welfare regulations and standards.We are committed to delivering products and services that exceed our customers’ expectations. Our comprehensive product range is designed not only for chickens but also for other poultry such as rabbits and quails.
