Low-Cost Cage and Free-Range Containment

Safeguarding Chickens and reducing Costs

This technology is a special kind of chicken house that can be moved around. During the day, the chickens get to go outside and find their own food like bugs and plants. When it's time to sleep, they go back into the house where it's safe. What's great about this house is that it's not expensive to build, and it's easy to move. This is really helpful for small farmers who may not have a lot of money for fancy chicken houses. It also makes sure the chickens are happy and well looked after. The house is made from simple materials like wood, metal sheets for the roof, and mesh to keep the chickens safe. It's important to keep the house clean and fresh for the chickens' health. The design also makes sure the air inside is good for the chickens. Placing the house on flat ground and protecting it from predators is also key. All these things together make it a really helpful and practical solution for chicken farming.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•9

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 9/9

Cost: $$$ 350 USD

Initial cost to raise 150 to 200 chickens

ROI: $$$ 50 %

Benefit from selling birds

2.0—2.5 Kg

Weight of mature meat chickens in 6 weeks

20 m²

floor space for 100 birds.

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

The financial constraints faced by many small-scale farmers often prevent them from investing in costly chicken houses, impeding their ability to provide adequate shelter for their poultry.
Due to limited resources and space, chickens are sometimes confined to cramped and uncomfortable living quarters, which can lead to stress and reduced productivity among the flock.
Without proper protection and shelter, chickens are susceptible to attacks from predators and adverse weather conditions, which pose significant risks to their health and well-being.
Farmers are increasingly striving to meet the growing consumer demand for free-range and organic chicken products, necessitating housing solutions that facilitate outdoor access and adhere to organic farming practices.
Keeping chickens in the same location for extended periods can result in the buildup of pests and diseases, posing a threat to the overall health and hygiene of the flock. Rotating chicken habitats can help mitigate these risks by preventing the concentration of pathogens and pests in one area.

Solution

Movable pens provide affordable housing solutions for smallholder farmers, enabling them to engage in commercial poultry production.
The technology accommodates consumer demand for organically produced foods and free-range poultry by allowing outdoor access for birds.
Mobility of pens prevents pest and disease buildup, reduces feed costs, and naturally distributes manure across fields, enhancing overall farm management practices.
Free-range conditions promote healthier chickens with stronger immune systems, reducing the need for antibiotics and supporting organic chicken production.
The technology is accessible and practiced commercially in various countries, particularly in peri-urban areas, facilitating integrated poultry-cropping systems.
Affordable and readily available materials make it feasible for small-scale farmers to implement movable poultry pens.
Proper ventilation, sanitation, and security features in housing design ensure optimal conditions for bird health and productivity.
The technology minimizes environmental impact through efficient waste management, proper ventilation, and strategic placement of poultry houses.

Key points to design your business plan

The Low-Cost Cage and Free-Range Containment technology enables cost-effective and environmentally friendly poultry farming methods, empowering smallholder farmers for commercial production while promoting organic practices and conservation.

To estimate the project's scale, consider that approximately US $350 is enough to raise 150 to 200 chickens using a free-run system. The profitability of this technology is evident, as chickens costing US $3 each can typically be sold for US $4 to $5 each, yielding a 50% return on investment.

This technology is available across several countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania, among others. When planning, factor in potential duty fees for delivery. Access to this technology is facilitated through agricultural extension services, research institutions, local farming communities, and organizations dedicated to sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Additionally, explore integrating complementary technologies such as Biosecurity for Disease Prevention to improve operational efficiency.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive high

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–Not tested	Adopted
Botswana	–Not tested	Adopted
Burundi	–Not tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–Not tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–Not tested	Adopted
Gabon	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–Not tested	Adopted
Guinea	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–Not tested	Adopted
Madagascar	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–Not tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–Not tested	Adopted
Niger	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–Not tested	Adopted
Sierra Leone	–Not tested	Adopted
Somalia	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–Not tested	Adopted
Uganda	–Not tested	Adopted
Zambia	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

The technology is like a special house for chickens that can be moved around.
During the day, the chickens can go outside to eat insects and plants.
At night, they sleep inside the house where they're safe.
This special house is not expensive to build and is easy to move.
It's perfect for small farmers who can't afford big, fancy chicken houses.
It helps make sure the chickens are happy and well taken care of.
The house is made of simple materials like wood, roofing sheets, and metal mesh.
It's important to clean and disinfect the house to keep the chickens healthy.
Good ventilation helps the air inside the house stay fresh and clean.
The house should be placed on flat ground and protected from predators.
It's best to face the house east-west to avoid too much sun inside.
The floor of the house lets droppings fall through to the ground, which helps keep it clean.