What is a Cage-Free Aviary System
A Cage-Free Aviary System for laying hens is a welfare-oriented farming system designed to improve hen health, behavior, and overall quality of life by eliminating conventional cages and providing a spacious, enriched living environment. In this system, hens can move freely within the poultry house and express natural behaviors such as walking, perching, dust bathing, foraging, and nesting. The housing is carefully designed to be safe, clean, and comfortable, with effective ventilation, protection from weather and predators, and controlled lighting, temperature, and humidity to reduce stress and support stable production.
The system integrates multiple functional areas, including ground-level activity space, multi-tiered perches, nest boxes, feeding and drinking zones, and dust-bathing areas. Perches are arranged at appropriate heights with ramps to reduce injuries and prevent keel bone damage, while nest boxes provide quiet, sheltered spaces for egg laying. An enriched environment—using elements such as sand, perches, and pecking materials—helps reduce abnormal behaviors like feather pecking and cannibalism. Feeders and drinkers are distributed to ensure equal access and minimize competition among hens.
Leading Poultry Farming Equipment Manufacturer and Supplier
Hightop Poultry Equipment is a professional poultry farming equipment manufacturer and supplier based in China, specializing in the production and sale of layer hen cages, broiler cages, and related automated equipment. Our products are manufactured using high-quality mild steel, with surfaces treated by heavy-duty galvanizing or Galfan coating to ensure excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and long-term durability. Under normal operating conditions, the service life of the equipment can reach up to 30 years.
Whether you operate a small chicken house, a medium-sized farm, or a large-scale commercial poultry operation, we can provide a complete set of poultry farming equipment, including cage systems and automation solutions tailored to your production goals. From system design to equipment supply, we deliver reliable, efficient, and scalable solutions to support modern poultry farming.
Enriched Layer Cage Specification
Cage Free Aviary System Specification 
Cage Free Aviary System 3D Rendering
Cage Free Aviary System Specifications
| Cage size | Length | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 2500 | 2676 |
What are the Features of Cage-Free Aviary Systems?
- Cage system: The activity space is larger, providing more horizontal and vertical space than traditional cages, allowing the hens to engage in some basic natural behaviors.
- Feeding: Feed troughs with chain feeding lines on both levels,The feed can be evenly delivered to ensure that the uniformity of the hens is 80% or more.
- Drinkers: Nipple drinkers are used to minimize water waste, effectively maintaining cleanliness within the aviary.
- Egg Collection System: Eggs roll into a collection belt and are transported to the front platform or centralized egg collection
- Egg Belt: Designed with wide egg belt, soft and durable, reducing vibrations and collisions during egg transport and thereby lowering the breakage rate.
- Laying Area: Equipped with side nest boxes lined with soft pads and curtains. Automatic open/close function ensures cleanliness and a comfortable environment for laying.
- Rest & Activity Area: Divided into upper and lower levels with multiple perches. Chickens move freely via steps and platforms. Adjustable partitions allow stage-specific flock management.
- Manure cleaning: Remove feces in a timely manner to avoid direct contact of chickens with feces and improve their living environment and comfort.
Advantages Of HIGHTOP Cage-Free Aviary Systems
1. Full Compliance with European Animal Welfare Standards
The cage-free aviary system provides open movement space, multi-level perches, nesting areas, and dust-bathing zones, allowing laying hens to express natural behaviors such as walking, perching, and dust bathing.
This welfare-oriented design significantly reduces stress, feather pecking, and aggressive behavior, improving flock health and aligning with EU animal welfare directives and retailer welfare programs.
2. Higher Egg Quality and Improved Food Safety
Eggs produced in cage-free systems demonstrate higher freshness and internal quality, with Haugh unit values up to 15% higher than conventional cage eggs. Firmer yolks and thicker albumen meet the quality expectations of European retailers.
Lower stress and better living conditions help reduce disease pressure, enabling reduced antibiotic use, which is critical for compliance with EU food safety and residue regulations.
3. Strong Market Acceptance and Price Premium in Europe
Cage-free eggs are widely accepted by European supermarkets, food brands, and foodservice chains, often achieving a price premium of 20% or more.
For producers, cage-free production is no longer optional—it is a market entry requirement for supplying welfare-certified eggs to major European buyers and private-label brands.
4. Sustainable Production and Environmental Responsibility
Cage-free aviary systems support environmentally responsible farming, in line with EU Green Deal and sustainability targets.
Chicken manure can be efficiently processed into organic fertilizer, supporting circular agriculture and reducing environmental impact. Automated manure handling improves air quality inside the poultry house and reduces ammonia emissions.
5. Efficient Operation and Long-Term Investment Value
Despite higher welfare standards, modern cage-free systems remain economically viable through automation and intelligent management, including environmental control and manure removal.
Large-scale farms can achieve high labor efficiency, low mortality, and stable production, ensuring long-term returns and operational resilience under European cost structures.
Why Choose Hightop Cage-Free Aviary Systems?
Complies with international welfare standards
- Each bird has more space to move around
- Provides separate nesting areas, perches, and dust bathing areas
- Effectively reduces stress, osteoporosis, and feather pecking
Efficient automation system
- Automatic feeding and drinking systems save labor
- Egg collection conveyor reduces dirty and broken eggs
- Manure removal system keeps the shed clean and reduces ammonia levels
Sturdy and durable construction
- Made of high-quality galvanized steel wire for durability and corrosion resistance
- Modular design for easy installation, expansion, and maintenance
- Stable frame withstands long-term, intensive use
Improved farming efficiency
- Complies with international procurement standards for easy access to export and high-end markets
- Cleaner eggs with high market acceptance
- Reduces labor costs and improves overall production efficiency
