With hot weather arriving rapidly, flock management will be vital to avoid overheating and the onset of heat stress in laying hens. Heat stress can cause numerous issues such as loss of production and egg size, a rapid increase in seconds and poor welfare if the birds are uncomfortable.

Signs of heat stress in your flock

• Panting. This is the most obvious sign of heat stress in poultry. When birds pant, they are trying to lose heat through evaporation.

• Increased respiratory rate. The respiratory rate of a bird that is experiencing heat stress will increase significantly.

• Spreading of wings. Birds will spread their wings to expose more skin to the air, which helps them to lose heat.

• Squatting/low to the ground. Birds that are experiencing heat stress will often squat or sit low to the ground. This helps them to stay cool by minimizing the amount of surface area that is exposed to the air.

• Reduced feeding. Birds that are experiencing stressful conditions will often reduce their feed intake. This is because they are trying to conserve energy and avoid generating heat.

• Increased drinking. Birds that are experiencing heat stress will often increase their water intake. This is because they are losing water through panting and sweating.

• Prostration. In severe cases of heat stress, birds may become prostrate, meaning that they lie on the ground and are unable to stand up.

• Death. In very severe cases of heat stress, birds may die.

10 ways to reduce heat stress in poultry

1. Ventilate Sheds

It is vital that ventilation is working to its optimum, as poorly maintained or set-up ventilation systems will reduce the amount of airflow in the house. Adjust ventilation to ensure an even flow of air over the birds. Air movement throughout the shed will ensure fresh air is coming in and help birds regulate their body temperature.

2. Reduce house temperature

UK systems have their limitations and are rarely able to cool the air coming into the shed. If it is 28°C outside, the air entering the shed is 28°C. Use the cooler nighttime air to cool the house down by reducing the house set point. This will bring in cool air and make the birds more comfortable. It will also mean the birds wake up cooler and have a good feed before the temperature starts to increase

3. Flush water lines

Cool freshwater can be achieved by flushing twice a day. Flushing early in the morning will remove water that has sat in the lines through the night. Flushing mid-afternoon can bring in another fresh supply of cool water when the temperature peaks

4. Minimise Hen disturbance

If birds are forced to move, they will generate more heat. If the flock is flighty, then reduce the number of times they are walked and rearrange nonessential maintenance to cooler times of day, such as the early morning or late evening

5. Use pop holes to your advantage

If it is still warm at night and the house temperature is not reducing, open pop holes just a couple of inches to create more airflow over the birds. Make sure the pop holes are still closed enough to prevent pests from coming in from outside

6. Back-up power

During a period of heat, the loss of ventilation could create a nightmare situation for both the hens and farmers. Test backup generators or batteries to ensure they are maintained and ready to take on the supply if needed in the event of a power cut

7. Adjust diet

High temperatures can reduce feed intake, so adjusting the diet to include higher nutritional specifications can help reduce the risk of egg size loss and help the recovery of the birds and production levels

8. Introduce supplements

Use supplements to increase water and feed intake. Adding electrolytes to water can help replace the birds’ lost fluids, and boost water and feed intake

9. Change feed times

Factor in temperatures when setting feed times. Increase feeds in cooler periods, adopt a ‘little and often approach and include at least one full eat-out period. This will ensure hens get all of their nutritional requirement from the feed by eating the fine nutritionally rich particles at the bottom of the track

10. Create shade

Having adequate and plentiful shade available in the range will encourage hens to rest in the breeze under shade. This can be from trees or homemade shelters. Extra temporary shelters can be quickly installed using pallets and posts or even silage netting lifted off the ground

Are you looking for further advice? Speak to one our specialists.