Chicken Coops for Sale in Brunswick, Maryland
Chicken Coops for Sale in Brunswick, Maryland
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 Enclosures in Brunswick, Maryland
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Brunswick Maryland" 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 Brunswick Maryland chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Brunswick, Maryland With the massive boost in chicken maintaining there has been a just as big rise in the array of fowl stuff for sale. Chicken real estate is a situation in point. It's additionally a traditional example of the excellent old bandwagon being got on as different prospective fowl housing professionals market a variety of accommodation claiming to be the optimal option to your chicken housing requirements. Typically the cost looks eye-catching, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks desirable, hell even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Certainly they recognize a top quality chicken house when they see one? There are several low-cost and also horrible coops swamping the marketplace. I recognize this as I've tested a number of them in the area, as well as seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed pail appeared. The outcome was nothing but a pricey heap of fire wood and also a little group of bemused and now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Yard Ideas in Brunswick, Maryland
More often than not these standardized designs are created of rapid grown up wood - come the first decline of rainfall they swell, leaving you either blockading a door that will not close, or ripping the doorway furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking residents. The initial warm day suggests the hardwood dries out as well as splits, the felt roof bubbles and also boils, and come nightfall the chickens choose not to go in. This is not due to their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their as soon as attractive building however because the hovel is currently a haven for, and also possibly abounding, the chicken caretaker's bane, red mite. Add on the fact that it said on the blurb that it would certainly fit 4 big chickens when that stocking thickness was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and exactly what are you entrusted? A number of joints and also some kindling. A decent coop for thee to 4 birds ought to cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this can rely on whether you choose for a complimentary standing house or one with a run connected. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a huge room as well as the pop opening doorway allows sufficient for the type you keep, after that the primary demands of housing boil down to three factors which will certainly specify the variety of birds your house will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes as well as air flow. Most types of chicken will certainly perch when they visit roost in the evening, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off edges so the foot sits pleasantly on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box access as chickens will certainly additionally normally try to find the acme to perch. A perch less than that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is by the way when they produce the most poo) bring about soiled eggs the following day. They should not nonetheless be so high off the flooring of the house that leg injuries could possibly happen when the bird gets down in the morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is undoubtedly less), plus if more than one perch is installed in the house they ought to be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbors but are not that crazy about roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably the house ought to have a least one nest box for every three birds and also these should be off the ground and also in the darkest location of your home. Your home must have sufficient air flow: without it after that condensation will build up every evening, even in the chilliest of weather. Be aware, air flow works with the concept of warm air leaving via a high void attracting cooler air in from a lower void - it's not a set of holes on contrary walls of the house and also at the exact same degree, this is what's called a draft. If you have a house with a run connected after that the factors above are still real, however you need to also think about the run size. The EU maximum legal equipping thickness for a free range bird is (and also allow's face it, one of the motivations for keeping some chickens in the house is potentially enhanced or far better well-being) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m squared. Take a close check out several of the deal residences - it could well be the house has the appropriate perches, correct air flow and also ample nest boxes for an affordable number of birds, but will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized item of ground to invest the day on? And so as the claiming goes, "you obtain just what you pay for". You could believe you've got a bargain, but you as well as your flock could possibly rue the day you did. Purchase the ideal house and also it will last for a couple of years, otherwise longer provided the proper treatment. In the long run your chicken and your poultry keeping encounter will certainly be much the far better for it.chicken diy
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