Chicken Coops for Sale in Decatur, Illinois
Chicken Coops for Sale in Decatur, Illinois
Agrotop's Green Henhouse Hotel For Humane Poultry That Matches EU Standards
Chickens won’t cluck at this: Aside from making life more comfortable for the hens, Agrotop’s henhouse incorporates wind and solar power, recycles wastewater, and even processes chicken waste into biofuel.
, but many people aren’t happy with the way chicken arrives at their table – both from a humanitarian and an environmental point of view. Most of the poultry you buy in the market is raised in factory farms, where the birds contend with overcrowding, disease and worse.
To correct this foul situation, beginning in 2012 the European Union (EU) will require farms to provide more space and more fresh air – and even a mattress or a pillow – for each bird. To comply with these regulations, farmers in the EU and in countries like Israel that sell poultry products in Europe are going to have to upgrade their henhouses. Israel’s Agrotop is poised to help, with its award-winning “henhouse of the future.”
For Agrotop, “award-winning” isn’t just corporate marketing fluff. The company really did win an award from the Ministry of Agriculture this year for its new industrial chicken coop design, which not only meets the new EU standards, but is also completely “green,” says Gaby Pelleg, one of Agrotop’s partners and directors.
A clean, green, aesthetic, humane coop “We designed the coop to physically match its surroundings, so that the natural beauty of the area where it is built will not be compromised. Plus, we use wind and , recycle the wastewater for use in the coop, and in addition we process the chicken waste to manufacture biofuels. Farmers can sell the power to the electric company, and thereby enjoy an additional stream of income,” Pelleg tells.
Chickens had it rough before, but the new EU regulations, which cover all fowl that are raised for food – and which Israel is planning to adopt as well – will make life much more pleasant for them.
Henhouse cages must provide at least 116.25 square inches of space per bird (nearly double the current standard) and provide enough space for birds to move around in freely, with access to fresh air and natural light, enabling them to flap their wings, etc. Cages will be equipped with natural or artificial grass or sand, imitating the birds’ natural environment, and each cage will even be equipped with soft material – a sort of ‘mattress’ or ‘pillow’ – for the birds to rest on.
The regulations were developed in part because of the impact of the animal rights movement, but polls show that most consumers, including those who don’t consider themselves animal rights activists, prefer to see animals well treated.
How green is your coop?
The Agrotop coop complies with the new EU rules and does them one better – by turning the coop into a model of green technology and environmental responsibility.
Industrial chicken production has also been the bane of environmentalists for years. For example, chicken manure has high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which when discharged into the water “steal” oxygen from fish. Many areas with large poultry production facilities report occasional “fish kills,” where large numbers of fish die off, with scientists connecting their deaths directly to manure levels in the water, and environmental activists demanding that henhouses be closed down.
So in addition to being a boon for animal welfare, Agrotop’s henhouses are good for the environment, too, “The coops are built of recycled material wherever possible,” says Pelleg. “In Israel, most of the coops are in the Galilee, so we designed a low-slung building for Israeli farmers to fit in with the natural topography. The coop is raised off the ground, built on piles, ensuring that it remains a closed system that does not affect the surrounding environment – not even the grass or topsoil on which it stands.
“The roof of the building has wind turbines and , for the production of [solar] electricity. And we recycle the birds’ manure, turning it into a methane-based gas,” Pelleg continues.
While the energy produced by the coop could be used to power the building and its equipment, Pelleg says he recommends to farmers that they sell the energy back to the electric company, because they can make more money that way. “So besides lessening the birds’ impact on the environment, our coops provide farmers with an additional income stream,” he contends.
Long-lasting henhouses ready soon
It was these green innovations that pushed Agrotop’s design to the top of the Agriculture Ministry list, says Pelleg, enabling the company to beat out four other competitors for the crown. Although there was no cash awarded for the prize – just recognition – Pelleg believes that the honor will help the company to sell more henhouses, both in Israel and Europe.
Agrotop, which has been in existence for decades, is Israel’s largest manufacturer and builder of turnkey poultry production systems, and has clients in 35 countries. In Europe, Agrotop’s chief partner is Germany’s Big Dutchman, one of the world’s biggest animal husbandry companies. According to Pelleg, European customers of Big Dutchman are itching to get their hands on Agrotop’s coops. Production has just begun, and the first coops will be ready to ship at the beginning of next year.
Changing their entire production system to comply with new government regulations is expensive, and both Israel and the EU countries will be subsidizing the cost of the new henhouses.
“Our design is engineered to last a long time, because we know that even with the subsidy, most small farmers are going to have a hard time finding the funds to buy a new coop. On average, farmers buy a new coop maybe once every 20 years, and we want to ensure that the coop they buy from us lasts at least that long,” Pelleg says.
(This story was written by David Shamah and first published on ISRAEL21c – )
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Chicken Coop Roost Ideas in Decatur, Illinois
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Decatur Illinois" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Decatur Illinois chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Decatur, Illinois With the massive boost in chicken maintaining there has been an equally huge increase in the range of chicken paraphernalia for sale. Fowl housing is an instance in point. It's also a classic example of the great old bandwagon being jumped on as numerous would-be chicken real estate specialists market an array of accommodation asserting to be the ideal option to your chicken real estate demands. Commonly the rate looks appealing, the house looks attractive, hell even the clean-cut household standing there feeding the chickens look appealing. Definitely they know a professional chicken house when they see one? There are numerous inexpensive as well as awful coops flooding the market. I know this as I've tested a variety of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run directly with one when the feed bucket showed up. The outcome was only a costly heap of firewood and a little group of bemused and also now homeless bantams.
Baby Chick Enclosure in Decatur, Illinois
Most of the time these mass produced models are built of fast grown up hardwood - come the first drop of rain they swell, leaving you either blockading a doorway that won't shut, or tearing the doorway furniture off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The very first warm day implies the hardwood dries and also splits, the really felt roof bubbles and also boils, and come nightfall the chickens refuse to go in. This is not as a result of their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their once attractive home yet due to the fact that the hovel is currently a haven for, and also most likely crawling with, the fowl caretaker's bane, red mite. Add the fact that it said on the blurb that it would certainly fit 4 big hens when that equipping thickness was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also exactly what are you entrusted? A number of joints as well as some kindling. A suitable coop for thee to 4 birds should cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this can depend upon whether you elect for a complimentary standing house or one with a run affixed. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a large area as well as the pop opening door is big enough for the type you maintain, after that the primary requirements of housing boil down to three points which will define the variety of birds your home will hold; perches, nest boxes and also ventilation. Many breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they go to roost in the evening, this perch ought to ideally be 5-8cm broad with smoothed off edges so the foot sits comfortably on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box entrance as chickens will certainly likewise normally try to find the highest point to perch. A perch below that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is by the way when they create one of the most poo) bring about stained eggs the list below day. They should not nonetheless be so high off the flooring of your house that leg injuries could possibly take place when the bird comes down in the morning. Chickens need concerning 20cm of perch each (in little types this is certainly less), plus if greater than one perch is mounted in your home they should be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors yet are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your home should have a the very least one nest box for each three birds and these should be off the ground and also in the darkest area of your home. The house needs to have sufficient ventilation: without it after that condensation will certainly accumulate every evening, also in the chilliest of weather condition. Be aware, air flow works with the concept of warm air leaving via a high void attracting cooler air in from a lower space - it's not a collection of holes on opposite wall surfaces of your home and at the same degree, this is just what's known as a draught. If you have a house with a run connected after that the factors above are still true, but you should additionally take into consideration the run dimension. The EU maximum legal stocking thickness for a free variety bird is (as well as allow's encounter it, among the inspirations for maintaining some chickens at home is potentially improved or far better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m settled. Take a close check out several of the bargain residences - it could well be the house has the appropriate perches, proper air flow and ample nest boxes for an affordable number of birds, yet will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized item of ground to spend the day on? And so as the saying goes, "you get just what you spend for". You might assume you've got hold of a deal, however you as well as your group could possibly rue the day you did. Acquisition the right house and it will last for a few years, otherwise longer provided the right therapy. In the long run your chicken and also your chicken maintaining encounter will certainly be a lot the better for it.chick chicken
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