Milford chronicle., 1962-10-19
Comfort Zone Of
Chickens Not Some

Poultrymen from Is states
crowded into the University of Del.
Substation meeting room recently
to hear the latest reports on broil-
er housing, ventilation, and lnsula-
ton.
More than $50 pro u e S,
hatcherymen, servicemen, process
sors, and extension and research
personnel attended the day-l o n
session. They heard reports and
predictions from researchers from
as far away as Connecticut,
Arkansas, and Georgia.
DR.. Till Huston, poultry physi-
ologist at the University of Ca,
gave the keynote address. He out
lined the basic needs of poultry
housing, "A broiler house should
provide an environment con-
ducive to optimum growth n d
performance of the bird" he said.
"Such an environment wou d
eliminate all stress conditions"
Since stress in many forms re-
suits in a large financial loss each
year to broilermen, Huston indi-
Gated that attempts to eliminate
these hazards could result in add
ed profits for producers. Manage
ment practices become stresses
handled, frightened or poorly
cared for" he said. During the
summertime, there is always the
threat of a heat wave that can
spell financial disaster to the
broiler grower. In the wintertime
there is the threat of a sudden
drop in temperature which will
cause a high mortality" Huston
went on to describe some of the
basic physiological processes of a
chicken and prescribed environ
mental factors that, when proper
ly controlled, benefit the birds.
Ventilation of poultry houses,
he said, performs two main func-
tions. 1t removes m o i S u r e.,
ammonia and carbon dioxde and
it supplies oxygen. The harmful
effect of inadequate ventilation is
due to ammonia fumes," he said.
While lack of ventilation causes
difficulty, too much air movement
Will result in death losses from
chilling, the Psychologist reported.
The assumption that the COM
fort zone of chickens is the same
as that for people is probably err
rOneous. Also. it is a mistake to
assume that types of houses and
environmental control suitable for
one area can be applied in
discriminatory to another. Systems
that are used effectively to cool
poultry houses in Arizona and
California do not seem to work in
Georgia"
In another report, Fran k
DArmi, University of Delaware
poultry researcher, told the group
what not to expect from a me-
chanical ventilation system. DO
not expect a system and control to
substitute for the flock manager.
Do not expect to set the thermo-
stats and time clocks once weekly.
And do not expect the system to
maintain itself" D'Armi said that
heating system adjustments should
be made weekly along with adjust
ments of the fan system for best
results. He said. that while the
ventilation system is an aid to reg
ulating heat losses, it, cannot be
expected to save fuel Its main
purpose is to remove moisture and
Introduce fresh, clean air. Some
advantages to mechanical ventila-
tiOn include even air distribution,
guaranteed air exchange through
out the day, and the elimination of
drafts, according to the research
er. Also, the elimination of harm
full gases and ammonia and the
reduction of temperature during
summer months can be expected
from an adequate ventilating sys-
tenn.
The evening portion of the hous-
ing seminar followed dinner
meeting at a restaurant near Sea-
ford. This part of the program
was devoted to a panel discussion
bv industry representative n
titled, What Our Experience Has
Shown Us" or What Not To
Build" Representatives of Beacon
Feeds, A. w. Perdue and Son,
Ralston Purina Company. and
others reported On results of vari-
Gus housing endeavors their COM
panies have been associated with.
Alden Loberg. chairman OF the
Delaware Poultry Improvement
house plan committee, also pre-
sented a progress report on a uni
versal broiler house plan for the
| Delmarya Peninsula.