Chickens are usually traditionally maintained can be maintained in a modern system with a battery cage. With this system will save space, easily monitor and can produce eggs doubled or even more than traditional maintenance.
Chickens easily we meet mainly in the countryside. Usually chickens are kept in a way removed. In the morning given a meal after that the chickens released for their own food, in the afternoon the chickens put into the cage. There are also kept in spacious cages and are fed twice a day. In this way the owner of the chicken can not keep in large quantities and can not monitor the chickens especially from disease disorders.
Actually, the chicken can be maintained in a modern way to earn a lot of money, especially for laying hens. One of the most popular ways is with a battery system.
Chickens Chicken battery system is raising chickens where every chicken lives in one cage alone and lined up. In one cage can contain six or eight spaces. There are several advantages of raising chickens with a battery system. With this system the required land is narrower because the chicken coop battery can be arranged three. Chickens do not move much so they can produce a lot of eggs. Besides, with this system the sick chicken can be known easily. Usually less healthy chicken eating less or even not eat. If there are signs like this, immediately separate the chicken and give preventive medicine.
Is it needed a rooster so the hen can lay eggs? Actually a hen can lay eggs even without a stud, only the eggs can not be hatched. So it could be breeding laying hens in large quantities without the help of rooster.
In order to be effective in raising the laying chicken with the battery system, please note the following:
- Site selection
The location of the cage greatly affects the health and productivity of chickens to spawn optimally. For that we need to consider the following:
a. The location of the cage near the water source. Water is needed for drinking water everyday chickens, cleaning cages, and for the cleanliness of the keeper.
b. The cage location is far from the resident's housing. In addition to the smell of dirt that disturbs the neighbors, the noise can cause chicken stress and decrease egg production.
c. The cage is exposed to the sun. The chicken coop where the battery enclosures are arranged should be exposed to sunlight. Humid cages easily cause sick chickens especially during seasonal changes or during the rainy season.
- Manufacture of battery enclosure
One battery cage unit consists of several chambers, 6 can also be 8. One room for the chicken has a width of 30 cm, 40 cm long and 50 cm high. Width of base / floor 60 cm and length adjusted amount of space. If space there are 6 means 6x30 cm = 180 cm. Ideally there are 6 rooms in 1 battery cage unit.
- Selection of laying hens
There are two ways to get a good laying chicken:
a. By buying a chicken that has been laying eggs but a young age.
This way does not wait long the chicken can start laying and capital can quickly return. But in this way it is difficult to get the chicken in large quantities except to be diligent in searching the chicken markets. In addition it takes a larger capital.
Another problem is when entering the chicken into the cage, the chicken will fight with the chicken next to it. To overcome this, the two chickens are fighting issued and let the fight a moment until one loses. After that enter the chicken again into the cage.
b. Hatch and raise chickens themselves. This way can get more chickens, but it takes a long time, at least five or six months the chicken can start laying eggs. In addition it requires more places as well.
- Feeding
To get the maximum egg, the chicken must get enough nutrition. By getting enough nutrition then the chicken can lay more eggs than usual. In general, the chicken laying around 10 eggs after it shows the behavior will hench and stop laying until about 10-15 days. However, with adequate nutrition, chicken can lay 2 eggs or more.
There are 3 types of food given to the chicken, namely: laying concentrate, finely ground corn and bran, with a ratio of 1,2,7. If the concentrate laying 1 kg, milled corn 2 kg fine, then bran 7 kg. Then mixed until blended. When cured to the chicken can remain dry and can be mixed with water. In order not to sprinkle better chicken food mixed with water.
Food is given 2 times a day, morning and afternoon. Give enough feed, not too much and not too little. Too little food can lead to cannibal chickens, egg production and immune system decline and easily attacked by disease. Too much food can lead to overweight chickens and in the end will not lay eggs. We recommend that once a week chickens checked to find out whether the chicken was thin or overweight, by holding and raising the chickens.
- Provision of drinking
Drinking water should always be available and replaced daily. To add nutrients, chicken once in a while need to be given additional vitamins.
- Period of incubation.
In contrast to the chicken race, chicken is always a period of incubation. When the brooding period comes, the chicken stops laying eggs. At this time the chicken must be removed from the battery cage and moved to another area where the chicken can be more free and can bathe dust / sand (kipu). In addition to the chicken can be fresh again, with a release in a spacious cage can prevent chickens from paralysis due to lack of motion in the battery cage. After a few days the chicken is put again into the cage.
- Overcoming the cannibal.
In general, animals have cannibalism, including chickens where the strong pecker is weak. When this happens then the weak will be stressed and ultimately disrupt the production of eggs. There are several things that affect the cannibal nature of the chicken that is; chicken lack of feed, room temperature is too high, parasite and cage structure. To overcome this, the chicken needs to eat and drink enough, a good ventilation system and a secure cage structure. Regarding the structure of the cage, in the manufacture of insulation or border with the chicken next door, make the distance between the bamboo one with the next chicken head can not enter.
- Handling of the disease.
Like other animals, the chicken can also get sick. When the symptoms look sick, soon the chicken is separated in a special room away from healthy chickens to get treatment. For that we need a special cage to handle the sick chicken. Drugs should always be available. Some of the diseases that usually attack chicken are gumboro, tetelo (ND), defecated chalk, dysentery, snot and chicken worms.