With the arrival of summer, a sudden rise in temperature often leads to reduced feed intake, lower egg production, and decreased egg quality. What's going on here? This is actually a result of "heat stress" in laying hens.
Heat stress occurs because chickens don't have sweat glands, making them highly sensitive to high temperatures. When exposed to heat, they may show symptoms like open-mouth breathing, drooping wings, a purple comb, and in severe cases, even collapse or death. The condition is most common in hens between 160 to 250 days old, with the incidence decreasing as they age. Heat stress can severely impact their immune system, reducing antibody production and lowering disease resistance. It also affects reproductive functions, leading to a significant drop in egg production.
To help alleviate heat stress, several measures can be taken:
1. Ensure that hens have constant access to clean, fresh water. They tend to drink more during hot weather, so increasing the number of waterers or extending watering times can help.
2. Use misting or sprinkler systems to cool the environment. When temperatures exceed 30°C, spraying water can lower the house temperature by 2–4°C. It's recommended to spray once between 11 AM and 12 PM, then every two hours afterward.
3. Add supplements to drinking water or feed. For example, adding water-soluble vitamin complexes or 0.02% vitamin C to the water can help. In feed, you can add 500 grams of vitamin C per ton of feed, or 0.5% sodium bicarbonate to improve eggshell thickness and reduce diarrhea. However, sodium bicarbonate should not be used long-term, as it may disrupt the body’s acid-base balance. You can also add 0.05% aspirin to the feed.
Important note: Sodium bicarbonate should not be combined with vitamin C or aspirin, as this may reduce their effectiveness.
By taking these steps, poultry farmers can better manage heat stress and maintain productivity during the hotter months.
Guangzhou Fuerle Health Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.fuerlegroup.com