Insha Mir
Research Associate (Veterinary), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy,
Ministry of Ayush
Winter is a challenging season for poultry farmers, as it brings harsh temperature extremes that can significantly impact the liability and production of poultry. Effective management during winter is essential to ensure the well-being and productivity of the birds. Poultry rearing is an art as well as a science and management plays most crucial role in deciding profitability of this business. Consequently, the administration of poultry amid winter is an essential sympathy toward poultry agriculturist. With drop in mercury level and change in weather, poultry farmers may have to face some challenges of low environmental temperature, poor ventilation and decreased photo period, these seasonal fluctuations may directly or indirectly influence the egg and meat production. Therefore, farmer must be ready to take on these challenges by adopting some winter stress alleviating practices to overcome economic losses.
Winter season has great effect on poultry production by lowering the temperature of surrounding. During winter when temperature goes down below 55 F, various problems like poor fcr in broiler, decreased weight gain, reduction in egg production, reduction in water intake, reduction in fertility and hatchability etc occurs. At present, climatic variation is a key threat for poultry industry, especially for marginal poultry farmers in open-house systems; therefore, the management of poultry during winter is an important concern for poultry farmer.
Although ways of practicing the management in harsh climate may differ slightly across region, the basic principles remain same. Below listed are few basic principles which may guide proper decision making.
- Proper temperature and humidity suitable for the age is always required
- Proper ventilation to provide fresh air and removing gases inside house is always required
- The rearing surface and bedding material should be always warm and dry
- The drinking water should be maintained at suitable temperature to promote water intake
- The feed & feeding practice should help bird to maintain their body temperature, metabolism, and osmo-regulation
To achieve these goals, following practices are implemented across country
- External heat source is provided to keep the poultry shed warm and dry
- False ceiling is often used to reduce the volume of shed
- Various types and layers of curtains and jute bags are used to insulate the farm
- Round brooding is often practiced when spot heating is done
While doing poultry farming in winter, farmers should keep following points in mind:-
1. Orientation of House
Poultry house should be designed in such a way to provide all the comfort required by birds during winter. Orientation of a building with respect to wind and sun consequently influence temperature, and light on different external surfaces. In winter the arc of the sun’s visible path is shortened, an east west alignment of a rectangular house provides a maximum gain solar energy in winter.
House should be designed in a way that maximum sun light enters the shed during day time. Birds should be protected from chilled winds, for this gunny bags should be hanged at the places from where the cold air enters. These gunny bags should be hanged down as soon as sunlight goes in the evening till the arrival of sunlight next morning.
2. Ventilation
During winter season it is necessary to keep the hose draft free but with plenty of ventilation. Birds release a lot of moisture in their breath and droppings which adversely affects their health, if there is restricted ventilation it causes ammonia build up in the air which cause respiratory problems. So, they need plenty of fresh air circulating around the house. For the purpose sliding windows are useful as they can be opened during day and closed during night. There should also be arrangement of exhaust fans to remove impure air.
3. Poultry house management:
Temperature maintenance of poultry house is of utmost importance for day old chicks as well as for adult birds. For day old chicks, shed should be pre-heated one to two days before the arrival of chicks. Day old chicks are most susceptible to cold stress because they are not insulated with feathers and produce less heat than adult birds hence winter stress to chicks can affect their growth rate to a great extent.
House or shed should be built in such a way that maximum sunlight reaches the shed during winters; mostly east-west arrangement of a rectangular poultry house gives the greatest intensity of sunlight in winters. Uniformity of temperature in the poultry shed is also an important factor. Behaviour of birds is used to assess that whether the birds are comfortable in the poultry shed or not. If the birds are sitting closer to each other causing crowding, this means the temperature is low in the shed which is making the birds stressed. This can be managed by increasing the heat of the source or installing extra heat sources in the shed. There are some open
4. 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.
5. 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.
Strategies for Management of Poultry in Winter Season
To optimize poultry performance during winter, beyond fundamental winter management, incorporating certain strategies and additives is crucial.
Proper winter management in poultry farming includes the use of protease enzymes to enhance amino acid digestion and reduce food availability for pathogenic gut bacteria, NSPase enzymes to improve nutrient absorption and minimize wet litter incidents, organic copper supplementation for better litter quality through its antifungal properties, organic acids like coated benzoic acids to foster gut health and control pathogenic bacteria proliferation, and essential oils with digestive-enhancing and antimicrobial properties to enhance nutrient absorption and support overall immune function in birds.
These measures collectively contribute to improved gut health, nutrient utilization, and overall performance of poultry during the challenging winter season.
Conclusion
Winter management in poultry farming requires careful attention to various factors, including house orientation, ventilation, litter management, feed management, water management, and brooding practices.
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.
Poultry farmers need adequate management of poultry birds during winter season to maintain the productivity of farm. If not maintained, the productivity of the farm will decrease. Managing poultry during winter is a tedious task, but if managed with proper scientific methods, the losses to the farmer can be minimized. Hence, to maintain reasonable yield farmers should adopt correct managemental practices