How to Reduce Heat Stress in Poultry

 

6 Ways to Reduce Heat Stress in Poultry



High temperatures can impact bird performance and reduce profits for poultry producers. Heat stress is linked to changes in the birds’ behavior, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, immune function, intestinal integrity and nutrient use. Poultry producers commonly face the challenge of heat stress either seasonally or year-round.

Heat stress can result in panting, increased water intake and eventually death. Access to cool, fresh water, ventilation, and adjusted feed schedules can help provide relief to birds

The negative effects associated with heat stress include:

·        Reduced feed intake 

·        Reduced growth

·        Poor feed efficiency

·        Decreased egg production

·        Higher mortality

·        Compromised meat and egg quality  

·        Higher incidence of disease

Extreme cases cause suffering and death in all poultry breeds. It is also thought that with advancing poultry genetics there are higher metabolic demands being placed on birds and this may increase the sensitivity of modern strains to heat stress. Various complementary strategies--including housing, management and nutritional strategies--to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress are required. 

When does heat stress occur?

Heat stress occurs when the bird’s core body temperature increases to fatal temperatures because of poor heat loss and limited coping means. Environmental temperature and humidity play a role in heat stress. Thus it is key to measure both the temperature and humidity in the barn.

How does temperature affect egg production?

Temperature can affect egg production in chickens. Cold weather, especially an extreme change, can cause hens to stop laying eggs. However, there are other factors that can cause your chickens to stop laying.

Too Hot to Handle

Extremes of hot or cold temperatures can cause your chickens to stop laying eggs. Heat affects egg production in chickens more than cold. Chickens lay well when the ambient temperature is between 11 and 26 degrees Celsius, or about 52 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Below that temperature, egg production diminishes. However, hearty winter breeds are able to keep laying eggs as long as they have enough food and water.

Seasonal Changes

Once chickens begin laying eggs, they need 14 hours of light to continue laying. Often chicken owners think their hens stopped laying because of the colder temperatures rather than the lack of light. Chicken owners can remedy this by adding enough artificial light to make up for the lack of daylight.

How do birds respond to Heat Stress?

Birds will try to re-establish their heat balance with the surrounding by changing their normal behaviour. Birds may:

● Try to move away from other birds.

● Move against cooler surfaces, such as the block walls or into moving air streams.


● Lift their wings away from their bodies to reduce insulation and expose any areas of skin that have no feathers.

● Reduce feed intake.

● Increase water consumption.

● Divert blood from internal organs to the skin, which darkens skin colour.

● Rapid panting.

● Loss of electrolytes.

6 ways to reduce heat stress in poultry

1.      Provide ventilation: In most cases, you can manage heat in your flock through air flow. Airflow at the birds’ level is key to removing bird heat. Increasing ventilation to remove heat from the birds should be your first priority.

2.      Develop feeding strategy: Feed during the cooler times of the day. Digestion generates heat and birds will be less likely to eat during the hotter parts of the day.

3.      Provide protection from the sun: Shade, misters, and even wading pools are a welcome relief from the heat.

4.      Protect drinking water from direct sunlight to keep it cool: use a roof over the tank and paint the tanks white to get cool drinking water. Make sure birds have cool, clean water.

5.      Don't crowd your flock: Your poultry need space to move away from the body heat of other birds.

6.      Use STRESSWIN Powder: STRESSWIN is well formulated in combination with vitamins, minerals and amino acids to prevent stress in Poultry. Overcomes the stress during vaccination, transportation and climatic changes. STRESSWIN supplements minerals, amino acids & vitamin during peak performance, stressful conditions and disease outbreak. STRESSWIN improves immunity to combat infectious diseases.

ReadMore about STRESSWIN Powder


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