Type A Layer Cage Systems for Profitable Commercial Egg Production

Expanding an egg farm is no longer just about adding more birds. Land, labor, energy, and biosecurity all limit your growth. This is why many professional egg producers choose a type A layer cage system: a proven, cost effective way to raise more layers in the same house while keeping management under control.

A type A layer cage (also called an A frame layer cage or A type layer cage) organizes hens in multi tier cages arranged in an A shaped structure. When combined with automatic feeding, drinking, egg collection, and manure removal, it becomes a complete housing solution for small to large commercial layer farms.

As Big Herdsman, a livestock breeding equipment manufacturer founded in 2005, we design and produce complete type A layer cage systems for global customers in poultry production, egg production, engineering contractors and agricultural technology service companies. Below, we explain what type A cages are, how they work, and how they help you build a more efficient egg business.

What Is a Type A Layer Cage System

A type A layer cage is a cage structure where the cages are arranged in an A shaped frame when viewed from the side. Typically:

• Two cage tiers are stacked on each side of the A frame
• Cages are aligned in long rows inside the poultry house
• Feed troughs and drinker lines run along the front of the cages
• Manure falls to the floor or onto manure scrapers beneath the cages
• Eggs roll onto a small collection tray or belt at the front of the cage

A complete type A layer cage system includes:

• A frame cage structure and support legs
• Cage doors and partitions
• Egg collection channels or belts
• Manual or semi automatic feeding systems
• Nipple or cup drinking systems
• Manure scraper or pit design under the cages
• Lighting and electrical layout
• Optional environmental control, fans, inlets, and controllers

Compared with H type cages, a type A system is simpler in structure, easier to install, and often more suitable for farms upgrading from floor systems or for markets that prefer lower initial investment with solid performance.

Type A layer cage

Why Egg Producers Choose Type A Layer Cage Systems

Type A layer cages remain popular worldwide because they balance cost, simplicity, and productivity. For many farms, they are the first step from traditional floor or deep litter systems into modern commercial layer housing.

1. Lower initial investment

A type A layer cage uses:

• Simpler frame structure
• Fewer automatic components than highly integrated H type systems
• Easier manure handling options, such as scrapers or deep pits

This reduces the initial investment per bird, making type A layer cage systems attractive for small and medium scale farms, as well as for large farms that want to expand step by step.

2. Easy management and supervision

Because the A frame is open on both sides:

• Farm workers can walk along the aisles and clearly see birds in every tier
• Inspecting feed, water, and bird health is easier
• Daily management, vaccination, and culling can be done efficiently

This is especially helpful in markets where labor is available and farm owners are used to hands on management.

3. Suitable for natural ventilation and simple houses

Type A layer cages can be installed in:

• Environment controlled houses with tunnel or cross ventilation
• Simple open sided houses with curtains and natural airflow

This flexibility allows farms in different climates and investment levels to select the right house type and gradually upgrade environmental control over time.

4. Smooth upgrade from floor systems

When converting a floor house to cages, type A cages often fit the existing building height and width better than tall H type systems. Civil modifications can be minimized, reducing project risk and cost.

Design Features of Big Herdsman Type A Layer Cage

As a manufacturer, we know that a type A layer cage is much more than steel and wire. Details in design and production strongly affect egg production, service life, and maintenance cost.

Robust cage structure

• High quality galvanized or hot dipped galvanized steel wire for corrosion resistance
• Heavy duty frame with reinforced cross beams and vertical posts
• Scientific cage floor slope to allow eggs to roll forward without cracking
• Anti fatigue design to reduce wire deformation over long term use

Bird friendly layout

• Proper cage size and number of birds per cage based on your local standards
• Smooth wire edges and rounded corners to reduce injuries
• Stable, non slip cage floor to support layers’ feet and posture
• Reliable door design with safe locking and easy operation

Practical feeding and drinking system

• Longitudinal feed trough positioned for easy access and reduced waste
• Adjustable trough height to match bird age and body size
• Nipple drinkers with drip cups to provide clean water and keep manure areas dry
• Water pressure regulators, filters, and medication dosing options

Efficient manure handling

Depending on your farm design, type A layer cage systems can be equipped with:

• Manure scrapers and cross conveyors
• Deep pit manure storage under the cages
• Systems designed for regular removal to outside lagoons or composting areas

Creating a dry, low ammonia environment around the cages is essential for bird health and shell quality.

How Type A Layer Cage Systems Improve Egg Production Performance

The value of a cage system is measured in eggs per hen housed, feed conversion, and overall cost per egg. A well designed type A system supports these key performance indicators.

Better control of egg cleanliness and breakage

• Sloped cage floors allow eggs to roll into collection channels
• Eggs have minimal contact with manure or wet surfaces
• Less breakage and contamination, higher percentage of saleable eggs

Improved feed efficiency

• Central feeding ensures similar access for each hen
• Reduced feed waste due to well designed troughs and correct adjustment
• Hens spend less energy walking and searching for feed compared with floor systems

Healthier environment

• Manure drops away from the birds, reducing direct contact
• When combined with proper ventilation and minimum ventilation strategies, ammonia and humidity levels are significantly lower
• Lower disease pressure and better respiratory health

Example performance comparison (illustrative)

While exact values depend on management, genetics, and nutrition, many farms see clear improvements in technical and economic performance after upgrading to a type A layer cage system.

Complete House System Around Type A Layer Cage

A cage alone is not enough. To get the most from a type A layer cage, you need a coordinated house system. As Big Herdsman, we provide equipment and design for:

Feeding system

• Silo and auger for feed storage and delivery
• Chain or auger feeders running along the cage troughs
• Adjustable feeding frequency to match production phase

Drinking system

• Reliable watering with high quality nipples
• Water lines designed to maintain pressure and flow
• Flushing system to clean lines between flocks

Egg collection

Depending on scale and budget:

• Manual egg collection from front trays (small farms)
• Semi automatic belts along the rows (medium farms)
• Integration into cross belt systems and egg room conveyors (large farms)

• Scraper systems that pull manure out of the house
• Deep pit design with regular removal
• Design support for composting, biogas, or field application

Environmental control

Even when using type A cages in open houses, we strongly recommend:

• Properly sized fans and air inlets
• Curtain systems for sidewall opening and closing
• Smart controllers for minimum ventilation, temperature, and humidity
• Option to upgrade to cooling pads and more advanced control later

This integrated approach makes sure your type A layer cage house works like a coordinated machine, not a collection of separate parts

Big Herdsman: Your Partner for Type A Layer Cage Solutions

As a livestock breeding equipment manufacturing plant, Big Herdsman offers more than just individual products. We focus on complete solutions for poultry production, egg production, and aquaculture production.

For type A layer cage systems, our strengths include:

• Over a decade of experience in designing and manufacturing poultry equipment
• Modern production bases in China with strict quality control
• Participation in national technology projects for smart farming and environmental control
• Integrated design from cages to environment control, feeding, drinking, and smart farm net
• Engineering support for layout, installation, and commissioning
• Long term after sales service and spare parts from automated warehouse systems

This combination of manufacturing power and engineering capability makes us a reliable partner for turnkey layer cage projects, whether you are building a new farm or upgrading old houses.

FAQs About Type A Layer Cage Systems

How many birds can a type A layer cage system house per house

Capacity depends on house length, width, tier number, and stocking density. For example, a typical house of around 80–100 meters fitted with 3 tier type A cages on both sides can house tens of thousands of layers. We calculate the exact number based on your building size and local regulations on birds per cage.

Are type A layer cages suitable for hot climates

Yes. Type A layer cages can work very well in hot climates when combined with good ventilation and cooling systems. We often use tunnel or sidewall ventilation, circulation fans, and cooling pads to control temperature and humidity. The open structure of the A frame also helps air flow around the birds.

Can I use type A layer cages in an open sided house

Yes. Many farms use type A layer cage systems in open sided houses with curtains. This is common in mild climates and regions where investment in fully closed houses is not yet necessary. However, even in open houses, proper fan placement and curtain management are important for good performance.

What is the service life of a type A layer cage

With hot dipped galvanized or high quality galvanized materials and correct management, type A layer cages can serve for many years and multiple flocks. Keeping manure away from the cage frame, controlling house humidity, and performing regular maintenance on moving parts all help extend the service life.

Can I start with manual egg collection and upgrade later

Yes. Many customers start with simpler systems—manual or semi automatic egg collection and basic manure handling—and plan to upgrade over time. When we design your type A layer cage house, we consider future upgrades so that adding automation later is easier and more cost effective.

Key Points to Remember About Type A Layer Cage Systems

• Type A layer cage is an A frame cage structure ideal for commercial egg production with balanced cost and efficiency.
• It offers lower initial investment, straightforward management, and flexibility for both open sided and controlled environment houses.
• Big Herdsman’s type A layer cage systems integrate cages with feeding, drinking, manure handling, and environment control for consistent production.
• Careful project planning—capacity, climate, building, and automation level—is essential for long term success.
• With the right design, installation, and management, a type A layer cage system will improve egg quality, feed efficiency, and overall farm profitability.

If you are planning to upgrade from floor systems or build new egg houses and want a reliable, practical solution, a type A layer cage system from an experienced manufacturer like Big Herdsman can be the foundation of your next stage of growth.