Aviary poultry system is one of four intensive poultry system. Needless to say, it has its own pros and cons that you should be aware of, before implementing it in your farm.
Although an aviary poultry system has low animal welfare rating and poor consumer perception, it is one of the most efficient poultry systems.
However, since the pros and cons of an aviary system are not a one-to-one fit, you need to consider applicable contexts. Furthermore, your choice of a poultry system may be determined by other factors besides the pros and cons.
Aviary poultry system defined
In an aviary system, living spaces are organized into multiple levels. An aviary affords more space for movement to birds. Additionally, it enables you to stock a large flock in a limited space.
Living spaces in an aviary, can be stacked upto 4 levels. As a result, this provides the capacity to house more birds, in contrast to ground or single level housing. Furthermore, birds are able to move around in an aviary system. Consequently, an aviary system is considered a better alternative to caged or battery system.
Pros and cons in aviary poultry system
The following benefits and drawbacks of an aviary poultry system are not exhaustive. However, they provide you with a quick overview and will enable you to make an informed decision.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enables high efficient use of space: more birds can be raised in a small space | Requires high capital to set up and run |
| Effective application of scientific methods | Poor consumer perception |
| Labor needs can be reduced via automation | Poor animal welfare ratings |
Since we intend to keep this comparison upto date, let us what we’ve left out. In the meanwhile you may be interested in our comparison of a deep litter vs aviary systems. Additionally, see modern aviary design for a deep dive into the technicalities of an aviary system.