Poultry Heat Stress Management: Preventing Summer Mortality in Broilers & Layers
Combat summer heat stress in poultry sheds. Panting, acute heat stroke mortality, Vitamin C, electrolyte balancing, and shed cooling protocols.
Visible Symptoms
Birds panting with wide open beaks and wings spread away from body; severe drop in feed intake with 300% increase in water consumption; sudden mortality in heavy birds during afternoon hours (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM).
Primary Causes
- Shed temperature exceeding 33°C with high relative humidity.
- Chickens lack sweat glands; they dissipate heat only through evaporative panting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does drinking hot water worsen heat stress in chickens?
If overhead tank pipes heat up to > 35°C in the sun, birds refuse to drink. Dehydration prevents evaporative panting, leading to rapid heat stroke mortality.