By learning how to prevent temperature fluctuations in chicken farming, you can help keep the flock free of respiratory diseases!

　　Hard-to-cure respiratory problems ultimately come down to one thing: temperature fluctuations.

　　1, seasonal temperature fluctuations.

　　2, weather-related temperature fluctuations.

　　To minimize illness in the flock, poultry farming calls for diligence, not laziness. Adjust the ventilation volume and air speed as the temperature changes.

　　3, temperature difference between indoors and outdoors

　　The temperature difference between inside and outside the poultry house is an important reference for vent opening and closing, opening size, and negative pressure.

　　4, temperature difference at the heat source

　　5, temperature difference at the entrance to the chicken house

　　This is very important. The air entering through the inlet is usually cooler at first and is also the easiest to overlook. Therefore, respiratory problems in more than 7 of the flock are caused by temperature differences at the inlet.

　　When the temperature difference between outside and inside the house is more than 10 degrees, the temperature inside the chicken house may not be low, but the perceived temperature difference is quite large. Therefore, prevent the air from blowing directly onto the chickens, causing them to get chilled and become ill.

　　6, temperature difference during flock expansion

　　This refers to the temperature difference that occurs before and after expanding the flock. Fifteen percent of respiratory problems are somewhat related to the temperature difference between the front and back ends before and after expansion.

　　7, morning and evening temperature difference

　　The temperature difference between morning and evening: if it exceeds 10 degrees, and the wind speed and ventilation opening exceed the chickens’ perceived temperature difference, the flock will inevitably become ill.

　　It is particularly important to note that when temperatures drop, energy requirements increase as a result, while the daily protein requirement of laying hens remains stable. This must not be overlooked.

　　At this time, if the feed formulation is not adjusted appropriately, laying hens will consume more feed in an effort to obtain more energy, but this will also lead to a corresponding increase in protein intake.

　　However, this excess protein—whether because it exceeds the birds’ requirements or because, due to an energy shortage, the protein cannot be fully utilized—ultimately creates a very undesirable situation: excess protein leads to a depletion of effective body fat on one hand and an increase in ineffective fat on the other. It also increases urates, not only wasting feed but also placing an additional metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys of laying hens.

　　In addition, protein that is not fully utilized is prone to fermenting in excreta, producing a strong ammonia odor that affects the poultry house environment and the birds’ health.