DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF SPECIALIZED CAGE FOR LAYERCHICKEN

Abstract

The aim of this study is to design, construct and evaluate a specialized cage for layers chicken and to evaluate various stress parameters associated with the use of such cage for layers chicken.Stress parameters that were evaluated are the temperature-humidity index (THI), equivalent temperature Teq) and wind chill factor (K). Likewise, production parameters such as egg production, feed intake, and hen day production and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. A locally made cage of plywood and wire net was constructed to house the layer-chicken. This cage has the space through the wire net that allows for ventilation. Ambient temperature affected the indoor temperature of layers house in the morning, afternoon and evening with coefficient of determination 0.52, 0.69 and 0.34. The effect of ambient temperature on indoor temperature was more pronounced in the afternoon with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.69. The layers in compartment A had initial and final average body weights of 0.79 kg and 1.85 kg, while those in compartment B had initial and final weights of 0.78 kg and 1.76 kg after 12 weeks, respectively. Generally, the weight of the layerschicken increased as the number of weeks progressed. The average feed consumption of each layer chicken in Houses A and B were 102.49 and 101.79 g/hen/day respectively. Temperature humidity index (THI) was found to have significant impact on production responses of the layers chicken.Regression analysis betweenindoor relative humidity (Rhin)and THI revealed a significant and positive relationship (r = 0.61, p = .001). The total Number of Eggs Produced (NEP)by the layers chickenin compartment A and B throughout the period of the experiment (four (4) weeks of data collection)were 219 eggs and 189 eggs, respectively. The mean values of Hen Day production (% HDP) for the birds in Houses A and B were 52.14 % and 48.46 % respectively. Higher levels of indoor relative humidity were associated with lower levels of THI while higher levels of indoor temperature were associated with higher levels of THI. Results revealed that conducive environmental and housing conditions of layer chicken will increase layer performance.