MANAGING HEAT STRESS IN BIRDS

Birds are subjected to heat stress when there is a high increase in environmental temperature and relative humidity  thereby causing the core body temperature of the birds ro rise.
  Heat stress can lead to panting, increased water intake,low feed intake, restlessnes and eventually death. Heat stress is not peculiar to any breed,strain, or age of birds. Every bird can be susceptible to heat stress and its effect due to their peculiar anatomy and metabolic activities.

EFFECT OF HEAT STRESS ON BIRDS
Exposure of birds to high environmental temperature can cause the following :

• Depressed Immunity leading to poor immune response to vaccines.
• Reduced feed intake which will lead to lower body weight gain in Broilers(meat producing birds)  & less egg production in laying birds.
• Heat stress also affects the productivity of the birds due to poor FCR
• To a farmer heat stress on birds directly reduces income as production drops.

SOLUTION TO HEAT STRESS
With the onset of increasing environmental temperatures, farmers need to pit in measure to check heat stress by doing the following.

• Ensure that your bird have access to cool, fresh water at all times. Use of ice blocks in drinking water to keep the water cool is neccessary when the weather gets too hot.
• Proper ventilation is also important. Pen houses should have cross ventilation and the nets cleaned regularly
• Adjusting feeding schedule to lay more emphasis on feeding during the cool period of the day like early in the mornings and evenings will equally help.
• The use of environmental cooling system can be implemented e.g The use of FOGGERS and SPRINKLES during the hot period of the day.
• Use a good anti stress ( e.g PPS STRESSMATE)  so as to suppress the stress and all its effects

In conclusion having a thermometer is important in a pen house not just for brooding but in acute harsh weather conditions like this. Remember birds can't talk they only give signs and we as farmers should be very observant and pro active, to have a productive poultry industry. Thanks