A uniform temperature within the poultry house can be maintained by circulating the air in the house. Mixing of the incoming outside air and the inside air prevents the cooler air from settling near the litter, chilling the birds. This also prevents the air from releasing moisture that could lead to increased litter moisture, microbial growth and ammonia. These fans should be controlled by a thermostat in order to help maintain the desired temperature. They should also be controlled by a timer for periodic air removal.
Ventilation is extremely important and becomes critical in cool, wet weather.
Ventilation systems should be designed with extreme climatic conditions in mind. Ways to Conserve Energy Maintain chicks within their comfort zone. When birds are kept in environmental temperatures above or below their comfort zone, more energy must be expended to maintain body temperature. This extra energy will ultimately be supplied by the feed con-sumed, resulting in poorer feed conversion. Thus, the environmental temperature plays a major role in determining the cost of producing a pound of meat or a started pullet.