Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management

ADVERSE EFFECTS

• Chick mortality due to lowered temperature.
• Most of the energy used by the birds maintain their body heat, thus retarding its growth.
• Combs become cyanotic
• Birds do not reach peak production during the expected period.
• Sexual maturity is delayed in pullets and these birds turn out to be poor layers.
• Birds consume more feed to maintain body temperature.
• More moisture is retained in winter due to less evaporation and creates dampness in the house.
• If the overhang is not long enough rain water can splash in and cause a wet litter problem.
• Houses must be built on an elevated ground to prevent stagnation of water, which in turn cause severe disease problems.
• A lower environmental temperature increases oxygen consumption, blood pressures and thyroid size.
• Cooler temperatures are immunosuppressive and thus predispose birds to infectious agents endemic in that environment.
• Respiratory infections like CRD, infectious bronchitis, avian influenza and coryza etc. compromise the lung capacity and therefore reduce the oxygen supply through the lungs.