The high temperature season in summer is a huge challenge for aquaculture producers, and it is necessary to have a good ventilation plan in summer to avoid heat stress.
1、 The overall policy is to strive to keep chickens in a comfortable temperature zone at all times
2、 Two ways of heat dissipation:
1) Conductive heat dissipation: Chickens mainly rely on direct heat transfer from their body to the air to cool down. 2) Evaporative heat dissipation: Chickens can dissipate heat through respiration. When we notice that the chicken is panting, it is evaporating some of its heat through the moist lining of its respiratory tract and lungs.
3、 Understand several cooling methods:
1) Conductive cooling: Chickens cool down by coming into contact with the outside air through their bodies.
2) Wind speed cooling: When the temperature in the chicken coop increases and the conduction cooling of the chickens is not significant, we can increase the number of fans to generate wind speed inside the coop and cool it down through the air cooling effect.
3) Wet curtain cooling: When the temperature inside the coop continues to rise and the air cooling effect is not significant, open the wet curtain to maintain the appropriate temperature in the chicken coop.
4、 Several principles of wind speed cooling:
1) Wind speed principle: In hot summer, especially during high temperature and humidity, generating wind speed cooling inside the chicken coop is the first choice!
2) Ventilation should gradually transition from small windows to large walls on both sides, and from mixed ventilation to longitudinal ventilation. Let the chicken gradually adapt.
3) Stability of wind speed: Maintain the stability of perceived temperature in chickens.
4) Pay attention to the humidity at night: After the wet curtain stops, the humidity inside the house will increase. Do not reduce the fan too early.
5、Several issues to pay attention to in daily management:
1) Accurately monitor temperature and humidity. Place accurate and calibrated temperature and humidity sensors at multiple key points in the chicken coop (water curtain inlet, middle of the coop, fan exhaust outlet, chicken movement height). Focus on the perceived temperature/humidity index, rather than a single thermometer reading. Wind speed and humidity jointly determine the actual feelings of chickens. Use THI calculator or chart.
2) Closely observing the status of the chicken flock is the most important indicator! Observe whether the chickens exhibit heat stress symptoms such as open mouth breathing (hot wheezing), spread wings, lying still, increased water intake, decreased feeding, and increased mortality. Adjust ventilation and cooling measures in a timely manner based on the reaction of the chicken flock.
3) Strengthen drinking water management to ensure sufficient, clean, and cool drinking water. Increase the number or water level of water dispensers. Avoid exposing water pipes to sunlight and consider shading them above water storage tanks or water lines. During high temperature periods, ice can be added to the water tank or deep well water can be used (but the flow rate must be ensured). Check if the water pressure and nipple water dispenser output are sufficient.
4) Adjust the feeding strategy to schedule most of the feeding during cooler times of the day (early morning, evening, or night). Avoid feeding during the hottest time of the day (to increase metabolic heat production). Consider adjusting the feed formula (increasing energy concentration, adding heat stress resistant additives such as VC, VE, baking soda, electrolytes, etc.), but consult a nutritionist.
5) Nighttime cooling and cold storage make full use of the cool periods outside at night and in the morning to achieve maximum ventilation (even if the temperature has reached the standard), and minimize the temperature of the chicken coop structure, equipment, and bedding (cold storage), providing a buffer for the heat shock during the day.
6) Daily inspection of equipment maintenance: fan operation, louver opening, belt tightness, water curtain moisture uniformity, water pump operation, controller settings, sensor readings. Regular maintenance: clean fan blades and blinds, flush water curtains and tanks, check circuits, test generators.