Choosing equipment for a laying hen unit usually starts with a simple question: “How many cages or floors do we need?” But this question is only the tip of the iceberg. A laying hen housing system is a combination of animal welfare requirements, international standards, production efficiency and maintainability — and the right decision is made when these four dimensions are considered together.

Problem definition

The laying hen industry has undergone significant transformation in recent decades. Animal welfare regulations, especially in export markets, are no longer optional. For example, the EU Directive 1999/74/EC sets out certain minimum standards for housing systems: a minimum of 750 cm2 of colony area per bird (with 600 cm2 of usable space), a minimum height of 45 cm, a minimum 12 cm feed trough length per bird, access to at least two nipple drinkers, the presence of a nest and a litter box, a 15 cm perch line per bird, and the provision of a claw shortening system. This means that the design of the housing system is no longer just an internal technical decision — it directly affects the exportability of the product.

Three main housing approaches

1. Enriched Colony System. An evolution of traditional cage systems, with the addition of nests, perches and play space. This system meets EU welfare requirements while still maintaining relatively high stocking density and hygiene controls. 2. Multi-level / Aviary. Birds move freely between levels in this system. Proper design of these systems requires careful coordination between feed, water, nesting and lighting levels — as uneven lighting between levels can lead to an increase in out-of-nest eggs (which are of lower quality and collectability). 3. Cage-free. Gives the birds the greatest freedom of movement, but also requires more complex management and monitoring — and requires more careful training of the bird from the brooding period to the laying period to make the transition to the laying period without loss of performance.