With the arrival of hot and humid weather, the most important issue facing chicken farmers is how to do a good job of heat stress prevention for chickens. This is the key to raising chickens' efficiency in raising chickens in summer.
Body temperature regulation
Since chicken skin does not have sweat glands and there is a close covering of feathers to form a very effective insulation layer, the body temperature of the chicken can be kept within a constant range within a certain range of outside temperature. Once the environmental temperature changes, the chicken body will send heat or heat instructions from the hypothermia thermoregulatory center to maintain a constant body temperature to meet the chicken's physiological needs.
In general, chickens in the range of 5 °C ~ 30 °C, body temperature regulation function is still sound, body temperature can basically remain unchanged. If the ambient temperature is lower than 7.8°C or higher than 30°C, the chicken's regulating function is not perfect, especially the response to high temperature is more obvious than the low temperature reaction. Under normal circumstances, chickens rely on body surface convection, conduction, radiation and other ways to heat, when the temperature rises above 30 °C, convection, conduction, radiation and other cooling methods are limited, and must rely on accelerated breathing, discharge water vapor to dissipate heat To regulate body temperature and maintain body temperature stability.
Heat stress symptoms and hazards
In summer, the suitable temperature for maintaining high egg production rate of laying hens is 15°C~23°C. The metabolic energy needed to maintain body temperature is the lowest and the feed conversion rate is the highest, so the production performance can be best exerted. When the temperature of the environment rises above 30°C, the egg production rate of the chicken will drop significantly; when the ambient temperature is higher than 32°C, the physiological function of the chicken will be disordered, the early symptoms of heat stress will increase, the heart rate will increase, and the body temperature will increase. High, at this time, feed consumption and production performance decline; when the ambient temperature exceeds 38°C, body temperature regulation and physiology of the chicken tend to be extremely disordered and a series of abnormal activities occur, and the chicken group will experience the typical symptoms of heat stress. , showing mouth breathing, drinking plenty of water, decreasing feed intake or even stopping eating, weakening immunity and production performance, increasing susceptibility to diseases (such as Newcastle disease, etc.), and when the temperature rises to 42°C, chickens open their mouths. Pant, wings drooping, and throat quivering can lead to shock or death for a long time, which is harmful to the chicken industry.
Heat stress prevention measures
Strengthen the physique of chickens and improve their ability to resist stress
It is required to strengthen the feeding and management during the brooding period to ensure the normal growth and development of the chicken body in order to improve the chicken's own immunity and anti-stress ability.
Enhances exterior thermal insulation and shading
The roof of the hen house is made of heat-insulating material, or the thickness of the roof or wall material is appropriately increased. White lime or paint can be used to paint the outer wall or roof into white, or trees can be planted around the hen house to block the direct sunlight. Shade cooling, but also in the sun directly above the shade net or pergola.
Improve the facilities inside the house and strive to create a suitable living environment for the flock
In the open chicken house, fans can be installed along the longitudinal axis in the house, and 15 to 20 meters can be installed.
When it is hot and dry, it can be sprinkled on the ground (used with caution when the ground is raised), three-dimensional spray, and can play a role in cooling and preventing heat.
Sealed chicken coops should be properly configured horizontal and vertical fans, air inlets and wet curtains, using negative pressure ventilation can achieve good cooling effect.
Appropriately raise the building height of the coop, not too short, and should face south as far as possible.
Appropriately increasing the eaves not only protects against rain but also provides shade, which is useful for cooling the open-air house.
Strengthen scientific feeding tube and enhance anti-stress ability
It is also a simple and practical way to cool down to ensure that you provide adequate clean, cool water. It is best to give cold well water or groundwater during the day and add electrolytes properly in the water.
Appropriately adjust the feed formulation to improve feed nutrition. Increase the level of protein, vitamins, and amino acids in the diet, and add 1% to 3% of animal oil to the diet to ensure that the intake of energy substances is high for high energy consumption and insufficient intake. Note the gradual addition and the amount can not be too much, so as not to cause diarrhea.
Properly change the feeding time and choose early or late or night feeding.
Properly reducing the rearing density and reducing the number of per unit areas can reduce the ambient temperature.
Breeders and technicians must timely and accurately grasp weather changes and take preventive measures as soon as possible.
Properly adding vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, baking soda, and Jieshu drugs to drinking water will help alleviate the effects of heat stress on chickens.
We will continue to carry out the disinfection of chicken houses, vaccination, and prevention of Chinese herbal medicines to prevent the occurrence of various infectious diseases. At the same time, do a good job in environmental sanitation and keep the coop clean and avoid moisture.
Heat stress treatment
When the temperature exceeds 32°C or when the chicken is open mouth breathing and reluctant to exercise, it should be promptly administered for treatment. For example, in the feed, poultry heat-resistant kings are added for feeding with condiments or dissolved in water to allow the chickens to drink. Taking 3 days to 5 days in a row, the symptoms improved.
Precautions
Chickens before the age of 4 weeks are not covered with full feathers, the wind speed can not be too large, if the wind speed is too large, the body temperature of the chicken will be reduced; can not use vertical ventilation, let the cold air blow the chicken body, so that the chickens are susceptible to cold; and for 4 weeks For older chickens, vertical ventilation and increased wind speed can achieve better cooling effect.
In high-temperature and high-humidity weather conditions, use prudent spray, humidification, and watering methods to cool down, which will exacerbate chicken heat stress.
While preventing heat stress, it is necessary to strictly control the temperature so as to prevent the temperature difference from being too large and to avoid adverse effects on the chicken.
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People can wear it during a cold night, and choosing the suitable heat setting to keep warm, as it has adjustable 4 temperature settings.
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Below image as reference:
Electric Heating Cape
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