The size and weight of the standard cage broiler breeder are larger than that of the egg breeder, and the requirements for cages are also higher. Some breeders use egg cages to raise broiler breeders, while others use cages whose specifications are not up to standard to save costs, which will limit the genetic potential of broiler breeders and affect their health and production performance.
Generally speaking, the length, height, depth and firmness of meat breeder cages are greater than that of egg breeder cages. The two-step cage with 195 × 40 × 40 (CM) in each layer is easy to manage and observe, and is conducive to artificial insemination. The breeding Rooster cage should be tall, so that it has full freedom of movement. Do not let its head be higher than the cage surface, so as not to damage its crown and beard, and affect the semen quality.
The time and intensity of artificial light supplement for broiler breeders in cages can be calculated according to the data recommended in the breeding management manual, but the distribution of light sources must be balanced. It is easy to solve the problem of two-step cage lighting. Generally, 2 meters below the ground is used to irradiate the ground. The light bulb should be equipped with a light angle reaction cover to ensure that the chickens in the upper and lower layers can receive enough intensity. The light intensity should be based on the test data of illuminance meter. The error of light intensity obtained by wattage conversion is large, which is easy to cause insufficient light or waste.
