Tips for heat stress management

I’d like to pass on to you some valuable tips and suggestions I have applied to my own poultry breeding business over the years when it comes to heat stress management during those hot spells of summer – particularly to those of you who are considering the construction of one of our Royal Bird – Animals & Enclosures chook pens.

Although this past summer has been relatively mild, the health of our birds during extreme hot weather days can be a challenge after a productive spring breeding season. Shade and ventilation are the key things to consider when choosing a site for your enclosure. Hot northerly winds and sun radiation on both the ground and roof of your enclosure can be managed by choosing a site that can take advantage of cooling southerly breezes and tree shade.

Tree shade is an important solution for keeping your birds out of the sun and reducing the thermal temperatures at ground level. At Royal Bird – Animals & Enclosures, our galvanised shed designs have built in ventilation systems that can harness these cooling influences.

A classic Royal Bird Utility Pen – positioned in dappled shade.

If your birds also have an external run, then planting some heat reflecting vegetation along the western side can create passive ground cooling. An excellent plant to consider is the wormwood bush (Artemisia arborescens) which can grow a good two metres high and has dense sun reflecting silver foliage and yellow button flowers. It is a great choice for those of us that are not green thumbs in the garden as it is drought tolerant once established and requires little care except for a bit of trimming. Chickens will sit under these plants all day in the hot weather and the foliage is meant to have beneficial properties but will not be eaten away by your birds. (There will be a future article coming soon with more information on plants and poultry.)

When it comes to extended heat wave conditions the importance of fresh water is vital to the survival of birds under heat stress. Birds showing signs of heat stress will be panting, holding their wings out and generally sitting in one spot. Hosing the ground can help reduce the thermal heat of the soil and allow the birds to bathe. Replenishing the water available to your birds from early afternoon and as often as possible is also important as they will not drink water once it heats up, accelerating their stress and risking death.

Breeders may also have the added problem of birds such as cockerels and breeding pairs housed in smaller pens. Setting up a misting system along the roof space of these pens can also assist in cooling down the area.

It should also be mentioned that during extended heatwaves the night temperatures can often sit above 25 degrees Celsius. Chickens cannot rest adequately overnight at this temperature and are subsequently already under some stress by the time the sun starts to rise. The more assistance you can give to your birds during days of extreme hot weather the better, so talk to us about the best design for dealing with our hot summers.

Preparing for hot weather events is an increasingly common dilemma for the poultry enthusiast in our challenging Australian environment. I am always conscious of this when providing advice to customers regarding one of our chicken pens or aviaries and the site location. By combining some or all these tips with one of our custom-built bird enclosures, your birds will have the best possible chance of pulling through the worst of our hot weather.