Both wide-span and high-rise houses may be openside, with movable curtains for ventilation control in warm climates, or enclosed with fans for ventilation control in cool climates.
A wide-span house will typically be about 10–15m wide by 100–200m long, and hold 20'000 to 35'000 birds.
A high–rise house will be typically 12m wide by 200–300m long and houses 50–60'000 birds.
In both types of houses, egg collection and feed delivery are handled by automatic conveyer belt systems.
These may also be used in narrow houses, although feeding and egg collection are sometimes done by hand.
In all types of caged-layer houses, water is provided to the birds by various types of drinking cups or nipple-type waterers placed in a variety of positions in or next to the cages.
Occasionally water is provided by an open, flow-through trough, in front of or behind each tier of cages.
Caged laying hens are placed in the houses at 18–20 weeks old. When their egg production becomes low (12–14 months), they are either replaced or moulted for a second, shorter egg-laying cycle.
Several houses are usually grouped together in an operation, with the feed stored in upright bins and conveyed to the houses by augers.
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