Poultry egg production is a highly profitable business venture that requires minimal investment. There are several reasons why a poultry egg farm reaps huge profits. For instance, the demand for eggs is not seasonal, and the ease of producing eggs makes it convenient to meet the market demand. However, if you want your poultry business to be a success, you have to put in meticulous planning.
What Equipment Do You Need For Setting Up A Poultry Business
Source: businessinthenews.co.uk
One of the first things you need to plan is the poultry egg farm equipment. Getting the right equipment can quickly establish your poultry business and reap good profits in very little time. Some of the most common egg farm equipment that is needed in running a poultry is discussed here.
A Cage For Egg Laying
A poultry business flourishes only when the hens lay adequate eggs. The egg-laying capacity of the hens depends on the conditions in which they are housed. So the aeration, the temperature, and the cage’s waste removal system all impact egg laying. Most modern poultry farms have battery-operated cages.
The optimum conditions within the cage depend on a host of factors like the geographical location of the farm (humidity, temperature) , the breed of the birds, etc. Most of the microclimatic conditions can be maintained at optimum levels with modern equipment. Some of the parameters that a modern cage can handle are discussed here
Waste Management System
In modern cages, a battery regulates a system of conveyor belts that help in regular waste removal. The conveyor belts carry the waste and accumulate it in a definite position in the cage. This position, where the conveyor belt deposits the waste, has scrappers to scrape and remove the waste.
Feed Volume Regulation
Apart from the waste removal, the battery-operated cage also handles the feeding system in the cage. The feeding system is such that the feed automatically reaches the birds via a system of rolled feeding pipes. Modern cage systems also have mechanisms that allow the regulation of feed volumes.
So if the number of birds is less, the volume of feed dispensed can be lowered, and if the number of birds is more, the volume can be increased.
Apart from this, there are mechanisms that regulate the uniformity of feed distribution. And finally, there are mechanisms to reduce the wastage of feed. One of the prime reasons for feed wastage is scattering caused by the birds. But modern cages have folded flanges and beams to reduce wastage. Folded flanges and beam arrangement prevent the bird’s entry into the feed area, and thus, they reduce wastage.
Temperature And Humidity Control
Source: livestockmiddleeast.com
You also have to regulate the temperature and humidity within the cage. The amount of regulation depends on the ambient atmospheric conditions. If the poultry is located in a location that has a moderate climate, not many adjustments are required. But there are several climatic factors that can affect the productivity of a bird. If the air becomes too dry, sensors are used to sense the dryness and humidifiers are used to raise the humidity levels.
Likewise, if the ambient air becomes very cold, as happens in temperate regions during winter, the cage can be heated to raise the temperature.
Lighting Control
Controlling the duration (in hours) and the intensity of light within an egg-laying cage is essential. Studies have shown that the intensity and duration for which the light is received by the birds affect their aggression levels and reproductive cycle. So if you want the hen to not fight amongst each other and also lay the maximum number of eggs, then regulating the light conditions in the cage is necessary.
Modern battery-operated cages have different light settings for different time periods of the day. Moreover, in some cages, there are systems that ensure the even distribution of light and prevent short circuits or voltage overload-related issues.
Egg Collecting System
The hens are housed in egg-laying cages linked to the egg collection system. The egg collection equipment makes it easier to collect and grade eggs.
Modern machines have a lift-based egg collection system.They consist of conveyor belts that collect all the eggs from one level, and crosswise (inclined) conveyor belts that run between the levels. The speed at which the conveyor belt moves is adjusted with the rate of egg-laying. And finally, in order to prevent contamination of the eggs, there are brushes that clean the conveyor belts at regular intervals.
Egg Incubators
Some of the eggs that are produced may need incubation before they are ready to be sold in the market. Modern incubators have automatic egg-turning mechanisms and automatic temperature and humidity control mechanisms. So these incubators can handle the eggs with minimal human interference.
Egg Grading Scales
According to the US Food And Drug Administration, eggs can be graded into five scales AA, A, B, etc. AA is the highest grade, and this means that these eggs are nearly perfect. They will have a firm and thick yolk, and their shells will be clean with no cracks.
If you wish to run a poultry business, your end goal is to produce the maximum number of eggs of the highest quality (AA or A grade). There are two main steps in the grading process; one is external grading. External grading involves checking the shell for a clean, smooth shell. Apart from this, the shape should be oval, with one end slightly bigger than the other.
The interior grading is carried out by equipment known as the candler. The candler allows you to check the egg white, the yolk, blood spots, etc.
Source: agrifarming.in
Conclusion
Maintaining poultry takes a lot of planning. After all, you must control multiple factors like humidity, light, temperature, etc., to get the perfect end product. Moreover, at each production stage, you have to ensure minimal loss and maximum efficiency. Getting the right equipment and knowing how to use them is the first stage in setting up a profitable poultry business. So if you plan on starting a poultry business, read up about all the equipment and know how to use them before investing.
