The U.S. Department of Defense employs several strategies to manage heat stress in poultry, especially during hot weather. These methods are crucial for maintaining chicken health, improving feed efficiency, and increasing survival rates.
**Cooling Techniques for Chicken Houses**
1. **Spray Cooling**: This method involves spraying cold water on the roof or directly onto the chickens using a sprayer. It is typically done on hot days, with intervals of 2 to 3 hours. This technique can lower the temperature inside the coop by 4 to 8°C, providing immediate relief to the birds.
2. **Longitudinal Ventilation and Cooling**: By placing exhaust fans at the rear (dung door) and air inlets at the front (entrance), air flows along the length of the house, creating a cooling effect. This system can reduce temperatures by 8 to 12°C, making the environment more comfortable for the chickens and encouraging better feeding behavior.
3. **Roof Spraying**: Spraying the roof of the chicken house with water can lower the internal temperature by approximately 0.9°C. This small but effective adjustment can significantly improve broiler survival rates, up to 23% in some cases.
**Adjusting Feed and Feeding Practices**
1. **Nutrient Management**: Reducing energy levels while increasing protein content by 2–3% helps maintain chicken health. Plant-based proteins are preferred over animal proteins to minimize heat stress. Adding multivitamins two to three times the normal amount and including 200 mg of vitamin C per kilogram of feed can help reduce stress and support immune function.
2. **Pellet Feed Use**: Pelleted feed improves palatability, leading to increased feed intake and better nutrient absorption. This supports faster weight gain and overall growth performance.
3. **Nighttime Feeding**: To avoid the heat of the day, feeding is scheduled from 10 PM to 6 AM. Increasing light intensity slightly during this time encourages activity and feeding. Feeding 4–5 times a day ensures that chickens consume enough food without overheating.
4. **Summer Greens**: Offering watermelon rind and fresh vegetables during midday helps quench thirst and cool the birds down, aiding their rest and recovery.
**Maintaining Dry Litter**
Wet litter increases the risk of diseases such as coccidiosis, mycosis, and ammonia poisoning. Common litter materials include sawdust, leaves, and rice husks. Keeping the litter dry is essential for preventing these issues and maintaining a healthy living environment for the chickens.
**Health and Disease Prevention**
In addition to adding antibiotics to feed, regular disinfection of the chicken coop and equipment is necessary to eliminate harmful pathogens. When using disinfectants, it’s important to choose products that are broad-spectrum, highly effective, and safe for use around poultry. The Weidao brand offers a reliable solution, as it kills 100% of toxins and has no toxic side effects.
By implementing these cooling, feeding, and health management strategies, poultry farmers can significantly improve the well-being and productivity of their flocks, even during the hottest seasons.
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