Poultry Winter Care: Strategies for Managing Cold Weather Challenges
Poultry is highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations, and both summer and winter stress significantly impact bird productivity. Winter, in particular, poses a dual challenge by reducing production and making birds more vulnerable to various diseases, especially respiratory distress and ascites. Maintaining a delicate balance between temperature management and ventilation in poultry houses during winter is crucial. Often, this aspect is overlooked by farmers, resulting in the accumulation of harmful toxic gases within the poultry house, posing serious risks to the birds’ health.
Winter stress can impede birds from reaching their genetic potential, leading to increased Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), low weight gain, higher mortality rates, and susceptibility to viral diseases. To effectively manage poultry during winter, the following points should be considered:
Temperature:
Extreme low temperatures, especially during brooding, should be avoided. Ample heat sources such as Bukharis, electric heaters, and gas heaters should be provided to maintain a consistent brooding temperature of 33-34 Degree C throughout the day and night. After brooding, maintaining a comfortable temperature range of 18-24 Degree Celcius is essential, especially during nights when temperatures drop. Ensuring proper brooding helps prevent early chick mortality, huddling-related deaths, and aids in achieving crucial first-week body weights. Round brooding with a false ceiling is highly effective in maintaining appropriate brooding temperatures.
Water Source:
Care should be taken when providing water to birds, especially in the first week. Avoid using chilled water, as warm water stimulates more feed intake and weight gain. Using a heat source such as a boiler or rod to warm the water to lukewarm temperatures can prevent chilliness. Adult birds may require regular water.
Housing and Ventilation:
As most poultry in India is reared in open houses, it’s essential to properly seal all open sides of the shed using side curtains, especially during extreme winters. Doubling the curtains can provide added insulation. However, ventilation should not be compromised. Maintaining a minimal gap at the top end of the side curtains ensures proper ventilation and eliminates ammonia and other toxic gases from the shed.
Litter Management:
Using good quality litter materials like rice husk or sawdust serves as an insulating medium, maintaining uniform temperatures and absorbing moisture, thereby promoting dryness. The rearing surface and litter material should always remain warm and dry. Around 3.5 inches of litter is necessary during winter, providing warmth to the birds. Proper litter management is important, as wet litter and humid conditions create an ideal environment for gut pathogens like Coccidiosis and Clostridium, leading to increased mortality and poor performance.
Conculsion:
In summary, effective management during winter is fundamental for maintaining poultry health and productivity in the face of cold weather challenges. It involves a balanced approach encompassing temperature regulation, water provision, housing, ventilation, and litter management.
Ensuring consistent temperatures during brooding and afterward, offering tepid water, properly sealing poultry houses for warmth while facilitating adequate ventilation, and managing litter quality are key practices. These measures not only prevent decreased productivity and diseases but also contribute significantly to the overall well-being and performance of the birds throughout the winter season.
By implementing these strategies, poultry farmers can minimize the negative impacts of winter stress, optimize bird growth, and create a healthier environment for their flocks, ultimately enhancing the potential of their poultry operations.
Article Submitted by:
Concept Farms-Technical Team
For more details please email us at:
conceptfarms@icloud.com
