For years, Gladys Kaaya, a housewife, desired to practise poultry farming, but was limited by space.
She lived in a two-bedroomed rental with a small compound.
In 2019, the family shifted to their four-bedroomed house in Mukono municipality, Mukono district. She set up a wooden structure and bought 50 kroiler chicks.
After five months, she sold each at sh35,000 each. With the proceeds, she bought 200 layer chicks, but lost 30 of the birds.
“I encountered challenges with the deep litter system; it was hard to control diseases,” she says.
Consequently, Kaaya opted for a battery cage system to replace the deep litter one she started with.
She says she does not regret the change because she has registered an increased egg production.
Intrigued by the benefits and desire to adopt the battery cage system?
Here are some tips.
What is a battery cage system?
Battery cages are structures connected to each other in rows, explains Charles Sekatawa, a veterinary doctor.
They vary in material and size and are customisable according to one’s space and the number of birds one wants to rear.
They can be as low as 100 birds to thousands. Cages can be sourced from several companies including Silver Star Agriculture Ltd, Champrisa International, Vitamax and Royal Agrovet, who were exhibitors at Vision Group’s Harvest Money Expo that was held in February.
On what to consider when buyinga cage, experts recommend that a farmer should opt for a reputable company or experienced supplier.
Do due diligence and where possible, get recommendations from farmers who have used the cages.
Ask as many questions as necessary that include the cost of installation and maintenance. This will help you get value for money.
Shadia Namubiru, an installer with Royal Agrovet Company, says: “Assess the size of your farm and the number of birds you want to rear. That will guide you on the size to buy.”
For example, she says a cage measuring 6mx3m that can house up to 240 birds costs sh3m.
A cage measuring 3mx12m that can accommodate over 2,000 layers costs about sh10m.
Ensure that the room or structure where the cage is housed is well-ventilated. This will keep the birds healthy, ensuring good egg production, Sekatawa says.
For the best quality, he recommends cages made using galvanised steel, saying those with other metals rust. To back this up, Namubiru says their organisation has worked with farmers who have used galvanised steel cages for 10years and they still look new.
Benefits of the cage system
The cage system makes commercial poultry farming enjoyable, Sekatawa says. The farmer enhances efficiency, profitability and productivity.
This means a farmer can streamline operations; monitor the feeds and hygiene. One can also rear more birds in a given space than under the deep litter system.
For a farmer venturing into poultry keeping or seeking to expand their enterprise, the battery system is recommended. Compared to the deep litter system, the battery cages reduce exposure to diseases such as coccidiosis that causes diarrhoea, Sekatawa explains.
The water given to the birds does not get dirty as it is stored in an overhead tank and distributed to the cages through pipes and nipples.
The feed is clean andthere is no wastage through spillage and contamination with droppings. On average, a caged bird feeds on 100g daily compared to 130g for one in a deep litter system.
A farmer can easily monitor the health of his birds and their numbers. If, say, one compartment has five birds, you will see if some are missing and also, you can see which birds are sick by looking at the droppings from each cage.
The floors are slanted such that when an egg is laid it rolls out of the cage into a trough. This protects the eggs from damage, and are easy to collect while reducing the time for this exercise compared to the deep litter system.
“This system is profitable. If, say, you have a small space. You can rear 120 birds and get four trays of eggs daily. That cage will cost sh1.5m,” Namubiru says.
The droppings are easy to manage. All a farmer needs is to lay a thick black polythene sheet or sack on the floor and collect the droppings.
If the floor is smooth, the droppings can be swept with a broom and collected using a dust pan.
Namubiru adds that these cages do not require repair, thus managing costs for a farmer.
Challenges of the battery cage system
Flipping the coin, cages come with some challenges. For example, these structures are restrictive. Birds cannot flap their wings, bathe in the dust or walk around.
If a bird feels imprisoned, it might affect egg production. Caged birds are susceptible to vices such as feather pecking and injuries from getting stuck in the nets.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Prof. Paul Kibwiika and his wife Rachael Naigaga Kibwika picking eggs at their farm. The cages, however, do not leave room to flap wings.
