Hw T... Their Thermal Cmfrt Zne Why maintain briler breeders within their thermal cmfrt zne pst-brding? The thermal cmfrt zne is the temperature range within which a bird des nt have t expend energy in rder t maintain its nrmal bdy temperature (i.e. it is thermally cmfrtable). Keeping chicks within their thermal cmfrt zne ensures: a gd start. weekly live weight targets are reached. gd livability. gd cardivascular and skeletal develpment. Hwever, equally imprtant is keeping briler breeders in their thermal cmfrt zne thrughut the rearing perid and during prductin. This ensures that their daily nutrient allcatin is used efficiently fr maintenance, grwth, mating activity, and egg prductin. 01 Why maintain briler breeders within their thermal cmfrt zne pst-brding?
The prcedure fr assessing briler breeder cmfrt The best way t determine if birds are within their thermal cmfrt zne is t mnitr bird behavir. This shuld be dne every time yu enter the huse, aviding the perid immediately after lights have been turned n and nt within ne hur after feeding. Prir t entering the huse, ensure all relevant prtective farm clthing is being wrn and that bts have been disinfected and hands sanitized. Prcedure Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Lightly knck n the dr f the huse and pen it slwly, disturbing the birds as little as pssible. Enter the huse slwly and quietly s the birds remain calm. Stand r sit in the huse in a place where the majrity f the flck can be bserved clearly with minimum disturbance t the birds (away frm entrance drs, side walls, ventilatin fans), taking nte f: Bird nise / vcalizatins. Are the birds quieter r nisier than nrmal? Bird distributin in each pen r acrss the whle huse. Are birds evenly distributed thrughut the pen / huse? Overall bird activity. Are birds active and exhibiting nrmal behavir (preening, feeding, drinking, nesting, dust bathing and mating)? Observe the birds fr at least 5 - minutes. The prcedure fr assessing briler breeder cmfrt 02
If birds are within their thermal cmfrt zne: Birds will be evenly distributed thrughut the huse. Birds will vcalize cntentedly. An equal number f birds will be preening and dust bathing, using nest bxes, and drinking and feeding. Nte - It is nrmal fr a small percentage f birds t pant at any given time f the day and age (5-15%). N actin required 03
If birds are t warm: The percentage f birds panting will rise. Breathing will becme labred and wings will be held away frm bdies. Few birds will sit tgether in a grup; mst will be sitting with space arund them. The huse will be mre quiet (reduced vcalizatin). Bird activity will be reduced. Birds panting in nest bxes (left) and wings held away frm the bdy (right). Actin required Increase the number f fans running t increase air speed and reduce the temperature the birds feel (effective temperature). The exact number f fans t be turned n will depend n age f birds, envirnmental temperature, fan capacity and whether r nt the huse has evaprative cling facilities. If evaprative cling pads are in place, check that the cling pad water pumps are turned n. If they are nt, switch them n. If cling pad pumps are n, check that the pump cycle time is crrect (huse temperature shuld be stabilized). Nte - Evaprative cling pads will increase relative humidity further and shuld nt be used if relative humidity is 80% r abve. If fgging systems are being used, ensure that they are nt blcked. Check that the cycle timer fr the fgging system is crrect (huse temperature shuld be stabilized). If day time temperatures are knwn t be high, it is beneficial t quietly walk amng the birds n a regular basis (every 1-2 hurs), making birds stand up helps t release the heat trapped in the litter beneath them. Hwever, this technique must be started as early as pssible in the day t prevent an initial build-up f heat. It may be beneficial t run fans thrugh the night t reduce latent huse temperature as much as pssible. 04
If birds are t cld: Birds will huddle tgether in grups in the huse. Feathers will be ruffled / fluffed ut t increase insulatin. A drp in egg prductin may ccur. When birds are cld the level f feed / nutrients being given may nt be enugh t maintain egg prductin and / r heat prductin. Nte - A drp in egg prductin can ccur fr a number f reasns and shuld nt be taken as the sle indicatin that birds are cld. Flr egg levels may increase as birds huddling t keep warm will als lay their eggs n the flr. Cld nest bxes will als increase flr egg levels. Bird vcalizatin may increase r reduce. Nte - The effect f clder cnditins will be greater if feather cver is pr. Actin required Turn the last fan ff that was turned n in the huse. Turn ff cl pads if running. Turn ff fgging equipment if running. Increase huse temperature by 1-1.5 C (1.2-2.7 F). Any changes made t the huse envirnment shuld be made in a systematic way ne by ne. Once adjustments have been implemented, the huse shuld be left fr apprximately ne hur s that the envirnment can stabilize and birds can settle dwn. Bird cmfrt and behavir shuld then be re-assessed; further adjustments being made if required. 05