- VERTICAL CHICKEN FARM (egg production) -


General description.

Poultry industry is one of the most dynamic sectors of world agricultural economy. Poultry facilities established and operated outside living quarters (on greenfield) and meet the national standards for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. The breeding of laying hens in battery cages takes place with specialized animal material and rearing duration is about 80-110 weeks. The species bred are Leghorn, Isa Brown and Australorp. The yields of these species reach 350 eggs in 80 weeks.

Farming systems and equipment.

A system of intensive farming includes the following sections:
A) INCUBATOR
Egg laying hens lay eggs that will later hatch chicks of egg production. The hens are on the floor, without cage, in ideal conditions of temperature and ventilation and they are monitored daily by the veterinary team. After collection of the eggs they are transfered to the hatchery. The eggs received are placed in incubator machines for 21 days. After hatching, necessary vaccination and quality control of chicks takes place. The chicks are then transported to the chick brooders section.
B) BROODERS
Immediately after hatching, the chicks are transported in brooders section where they will stay for 16 weeks. The parenting is done by veterinary surveillance team.
C) LAYING
The 16 weeks chickens are transported to laying section. Here there are cage systems where their breeding is done. Battery cages consist of sections of 2 or three 3 floors and 120 cm length with the following capacity:.
* Cages of 2 floors with a capacity of 56 animals.
* Cages of 3 floors with a capacity of 84 animals.
The minimum clearance height between floors is 45 cm. These cages can be combined in series with a maximum length of about 10 meters. They are equipped with feeders, drinkers and a manure transport system with a belt beneath each floor. The collection of manure gets in a tank and then transported by a roller conveyor outside the building. Egg lift collection system allows collection of eggs from each floor separately and transfer of them with conveyor system directly to the place we want, where they will be sorted and packaged. The eggs are collected daily. Each egg passes from the fully automated candling center, where detailed control takes place to select only those that are absolutely fresh.
D) EGG PROCESSING
This section includes fully automated storage and egg processing facilities delivering egg products of the highest standards in the international food industry. The products produced are as follows:
* Whole egg.
* Yolk in liquid and powder form.
* Egg white in liquid and powder form.

Premises and vertical farms.

Due to the rapid urban expansion much of the arable land of greenfield around cities is disappearing. This is the incentive for the creation of vertical farms in order to save space for residential development, as well as not to reduce agricultural activity in the perimeter of the cities. Made of lightweight and high strength materials, with emphasis on usability, the vertical farms structures are developed in floors giving the ability to public have a closer view of rural activities. They are designed so that the production sections to be in a compact architectural space placed in floors, and to avoid their dispersal in larger areas such as it happens today. The overall objective is to create additional "ground" for rural activity and these structures can become an attraction for visitors of the city.