Specification Sheet_Cages.pdf

Specification Sheet

Background:

USDA-ARS requires cages for housing newly procured male and female chickens during the required quarantine period. We require individual housing environments for a total of 48 laying hens and 48 roosters. During this quarantine period, we require individual cages to allow for veterinary staff to monitor newly procured birds appropriately. In addition, for the laying hens, we need to be able to monitor egg production for individual hens, with the requested cages equipped with sloped floor for egg collection from individual hens. Lastly, individual cages are required for housing the roosters, as males will exhibit fighting behaviors that could lead to bird injury in a floor pen setting.

Scope:

To provide custom cage units with individual cages for roosters and laying hens for the newly renovated poultry quarantine facility at BARC (building 434).

Technical requirements:

1) Requesting a total of 48 cages (specifically for layer hens and another 48 cages specifically for roosters).

2) Manufacture caging units comprised of individual cages that meet minimum square footage and height requirements to house individual birds safely. For laying hens, we require 3 sq ft per bird with a cage height of 20 inches and require sloped floors to allow for proper egg collection. For roosters, we require 5 sq ft per bird with a cage height of 30 inches.

3) Manufacture caging units that adhere to the dimensional restrictions of building 434 animal rooms *the cage units must be able to pass through a 33.5-inch width door opening, rather than a more traditional double door opening*

4) Design all cages with feeder access, litter pans, and an adjustable height automated water system to meet necessary husbandry requirements.

5) Provide means for the caging units to be mobile (on casters) to allow for proper room setup and decontamination.

Place of performance:

On-site.

USDA, ARS,

10300 Baltimore Avenue Bldg. 434, BARC-EAST Beltsville, MD 20705