Traditional laying hen farming has long been plagued by a series of management challenges and cost pressures. For instance, the manual cleaning of manure is not only labor - intensive but also time - consuming. It is estimated that in a medium - sized farm with about 10,000 laying hens, manual manure cleaning may require 5 - 8 workers per day, and each worker spends about 4 - 6 hours on this task. This high labor input significantly increases the overall cost of farming.
In addition, the low efficiency of traditional egg collection methods also affects the productivity of the farm. Manual egg collection may lead to a loss rate of about 2 - 3% due to accidental breakage, and the time taken to collect eggs from a large number of cages can be quite long. Moreover, poor sanitation in traditional farming can cause various diseases among the hens, reducing the egg - laying rate by approximately 10 - 15%.
The automatic manure cleaning system works based on a conveyor belt mechanism. The manure falls onto the conveyor belt under the cages, and the belt moves continuously to transport the manure to a designated collection area. The egg collection system uses a series of rollers and chutes to gently guide the eggs from the cages to a central collection point, minimizing the risk of breakage.
One of the most significant advantages is the reduction of labor costs. With an automatic system, the number of workers required for manure cleaning and egg collection can be reduced by about 70 - 80%. For example, in a farm that previously needed 8 workers for these tasks, after installing the automatic system, only 1 - 2 workers are needed for simple monitoring and maintenance.
The efficiency improvement is also remarkable. The automatic manure cleaning system can clean the manure in real - time, ensuring a clean environment in the chicken coop. The egg collection system can collect eggs quickly, reducing the egg breakage rate to less than 0.5%. This leads to an increase in the overall egg - laying rate by about 15 - 20% as the hens are in a more comfortable and hygienic environment.
The operation of the automatic manure cleaning system starts with setting the conveyor belt speed according to the number of hens and the amount of manure production. Usually, the belt runs at a speed of about 1 - 2 meters per minute. For the egg collection system, the rollers and chutes need to be adjusted to ensure smooth egg movement. The eggs are then sorted and packed at the collection point.
Regular maintenance is crucial for the long - term operation of these systems. The conveyor belts of the manure cleaning system should be checked for wear and tear at least once a week, and any damaged parts should be replaced immediately. The rollers and chutes of the egg collection system need to be cleaned regularly to prevent egg residue from accumulating, which can affect the egg movement.
In a large - scale laying hen farm in Shandong, China, after installing the automatic manure cleaning and egg collection systems provided by Zhengzhou Liwei Machinery, the labor cost was reduced by 75% within the first year. The egg - laying rate increased from 80% to 92%, and the egg breakage rate dropped from 2.5% to 0.3%. Another farm in Henan Province also reported similar results. The improved sanitation in the chicken coop led to a significant reduction in the incidence of diseases among the hens, saving a large amount of medical expenses.
The future of laying hen farming automation is promising. Integration with advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) will enable more intelligent management of the farms. For example, sensors can be installed in the chicken coops to monitor the temperature, humidity, and air quality in real - time, and AI algorithms can adjust the environmental parameters automatically.
Moreover, compliance with international standards such as ISO9001, ISO14001, and CE is becoming increasingly important. These standards ensure the quality, environmental friendliness, and safety of the automated equipment, which is crucial for entering the global market.
The automatic manure cleaning and egg collection systems provide an effective solution to the challenges faced by traditional laying hen farming. With their significant advantages in reducing labor costs, improving efficiency, and enhancing the egg - laying rate, these systems are the future of the industry. Zhengzhou Liwei Machinery's products, such as the efficient H - type layer chicken cages, are well - designed to integrate with these automated systems, helping farmers achieve intelligent transformation.
If you are interested in learning more about Zhengzhou Liwei Machinery's intelligent laying hen farming solutions to boost your farming business, click here.
