Chicken Management during Summer Season

1. MANAGEMENT OF CHICKEN
DURING SUMMER
BY, RANJINI MANUEL

2. INTRODUCTION
Chickens are very sensitive to high environmental temperatures
Effects their growth, production and health
It is a serious concern to poultry producers as it directly leads to
financial losses

3. WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAT STRESS
 Difficult in achieving balance between body
heat loss and heat production
Normal body temperature – 41°C
When ambient temperature less that body
temperature – non evaporative cooling
Ambient temperature rises beyond birds thermo
neutral zone- evaporative cooling /panting

4. NON EVAPORATIVE COOLING

5. Panting is effective way to control body
temperature but it is energy consuming
Can result in low feed intake and decreased feed
efficiency
20-30°C - feed intake drops by 1-1.5% for every
1°C
32°C and above - feed intake drops by 5%

6. Water intake increases Decreased retention of water
in temperature
in panting
loss of carbon dioxide
Bicarbonate level in blood
plasma
HCO3
-
+ K+ Urine

7. EFFECT OF HEAT

8. EFFECT OF SUMMER HEAT ON
CHICKENS
Temperature Effect
18- 26°C Desirable temperature
26-35°C Feed consumption reduces
35-37.5°C For each degree rise 2-3% loss of feed
intake
37.5 -38.5°C Intensity of heat stress exerts further
on above
38.5°C & above Lethal/killing temperature

9. MANAGEMENT
Thatched roofing of about 6” inches thickness
 Non insulated house overhang of atleast 1M is
required
 Open type ventilation is recommended in tropics
Width of poultry house shall not exceed 10M

11.  Provide tunnel ventilation along with pad
cooler, foggers- evaporative cooling
Mechanical ventilation with evaporative cooler
should be function from 10AM-6PM
For birds in cages centre height of building
should be minimum 14 ft.
Addition of 0.48% KCl
Addition of 1 Kg – sod.bicarbonate / tonne of
feed

12. Sprinklers should be operated continuously for 8
hrs
Plant shady trees
Rear relatively more heat tolerant strains of
broilers
Provide plenty of clean cool water
To increase feed intake , decrease energy content
of feed by 10%
Calories in the feed may be replaced by fat/oil

14. Addition of electrolytes, ascorbic acid , sodium
bicarbonate
Litter thickness should not be more than 6cm
Avoid overcrowding
Mechanical ventilation should be provided to
increase air flow rate

15. THANK YOU