Abstract: A laying nest is provided with an improved ejection system, in which the risk of expelling eggs together with the hens is suppressed. The floor of the laying nest can rotate in both directions. Thanks to this arrangement, at first it can be rotated in a first direction for inclining it towards the egg collection area and ensuring that all the laid eggs are removed; next, it can be rotated in a second, opposite direction for inclining it towards the hen coop and thus expelling the hens from the laying nest. In a preferred embodiment, the driving arrangement of the ejection system of the laying nest is entirely arranged below the floor of the laying nest, so as to not occupy room in the laying nest and to be protected from manures and dirt that may be present in the laying nest.

Abstract: Nesting apparatus (2) for hens includes a line of nesting cages (2), and an ejector member (4) in each cage (2), individually actuatable independently of the ejector members (4) in the other cages (2) to eject a hen from the respective cage (2) upon the existence of one or more specified conditions, such as the laying of an egg in the cage (2), the occupation of the cage (2) by the respective hen a predetermined length of time, etc. The hens carry transponders (15) which may be interrogated by a reader (18) movable along the line of cages (2) to identify the hens and to keep track of their activities.