Egg Production > Products > Housing Systems > Cage-Free Aviary Systems > NATURA® Sunrise

NATURA® Sunrise

Multi-tier open access aviary

Special characteristics of the NATURA Sunrise are its central egg belt and the divided tilting nest floor. Before the the NATURA Sunrise nest is closed at night, all eggs can roll off backwards onto the egg belt. This prevents eggs from remaining in the nest, locks out hens trying to sleep in the nest and thus soiling it, or brooding inside. Moreover, the daily dust drops off the nest insert resulting in good nest hygiene.

The NATURA Sunrise shares the same open environment design, and the same innovative nest as the COLONY2+ with a central egg belt and patented tilting nest floor. Above the nest is an area for more perch and floor space for your flock to roost and relax.

To keep eggs clean and safe the NATURA Sunrise includes our patented approach perch. This approach perch holds the rare mis-laid egg with a protective covering until someone easily collects them while walking the house.

Where this system is unique from the COLONY2+ is the use of manure belts, which carries the manure out of the house to maintain a cleaner house, resulting in lower ammonia levels, and better quality air in the house. Another unique design of this system is in its construction. Everything from feeding, watering, and perching is self supported, so there is nothing hanging from the ceiling.

Important Advantages

Self-supporting system that includes feeding, watering and perching all together
Uses manure belts to carry manure out of the house, helping maintain lower ammonia levels and better air quality
Patented tilting nest floor and approach perch
Nest stays clean throughout the entire batch
Nest design and placement encourages nest acceptance
Short roll-off distances and smooth transition of eggs onto the egg belt
Solid nest mat prevents air updraft into the nest, maximizing hen comfort and thus nest acceptance increases

Fresh feed for the entire flock

The proven Champion™ Chain feeding system improves production, and profits by delivering superior feed flow in an easy to install system that requires little maintenance, and is built to deliver over a long period of time. The Champion Chain Drive is specifically designed to ensure excellent feed flow and correct sprocket engagement, and presents feed according to the producer’s management schedule—not the manufacturer’s schedule. Feed can easily be increased or decreased depending on your schedule.

Drinking

Fresh water at any time

The entire flock has easy access to fresh water whenever they want it. Our water placement is intentional in order to promote bird movement within the system, which is vital for a healthy flock. When birds move around air flow is increased, resulting in healthier birds, a calm flock, and drier litter.

Nest Design

Maximizing egg laying and quality

The NATURA Sunrise nest is an innovative design for an automatic group-laying nest for broiler breeders, layer breeders and layers. Special characteristics of this automatic nest are its central egg belt and the patented divided tilting nest floor. It’s the hen’s natural desire to find the most secure place to lay her eggs. The nests are located in areas to provide this sense of security they seek. After the egg is laid, it gently rolls out onto the egg collection belt, and then heads to the egg packing area automatically. The average nest acceptance is 98%, but for those rare times when an egg is laid outside of the nest, we’ve designed a built in system egg tray to allow picking up the mis-laid eggs fast and easy.

Operation of the tilting nest floor

The egg belt is located in the center to allow the eggs be laid directly in front of the belt. This design ensures the shortest possible roll-off distance for the eggs, minimizing the amount of cracked and checked eggs.

Before the divided nest floor completely closes the nest, it is first raised in the center, increasing the inclination of the rear part of the nest floor and removing any eggs from the nest area.

The nest floor is raised completely, allowing any dirt to drop off the nest insert as well as closing off the nest to prevent hens from entering and brooding inside.

Perching Design and Placement

Strategically designed perching provides plenty of space for the flock to perch, resulting in a high performing, uniform flock, with less stress. Perches allow the hen to relax, and the position of the perches keep matter from soiling the feed or water.

Patented approach perch

The patented approach perch is designed to protect any mislaid eggs. It also positions the hens to face outside of the system while roosting, allowing the manure to fall onto the manure belt, resulting in lower ammonia levels and a cleaner system.

Litter Properly Dried

For a healthy and calm flock

Every evening the entire flock makes their way off the litter aisle floor all by themselves. With the flock up off the floor every night the litter is able to dry thoroughly, providing quality litter in which your flock can forage, dust bathe, and move around without the litter sticking to their feet. The better the quality of litter, the more the hens will use this area to act out their natural behaviors, improving the welfare of the entire flock.

Movement

Outside and inside the system

Movement is easy for the hens. They are able to roam around, dust bathe, forage, interact with other hens, perch and do what they please.

Resources

View and download the latest NATURA Sunrise product brochure.

Questions? Ask our Aviary Specialists

Managing aviary systems can seem overwhelming for producers. Our Aviary Specialists are here to help. Click the link below to find their contact information and feel free to reach out to them at any time to get your questions answered.

Get Started on Your Project

Over the course of 80 years we have designed, tested, developed, and refined egg production equipment to meet every imaginable need. Get in touch with our sales team to discuss your farm requirements today.