Heat stress in birds
stress is generally defined as the response to external and internal challenges, whether chemical or physical, thatss threaten the bird's internal environment and lead to stimulating physiological and behavioral responses in order to adapt to the new situation. The importance of stress is evident in that it increases the chance of birds contracting various diseases, especially latent diseases, in addition to causing a reduction in productive efficiency.
Stressors are many and varied, including high or low environmental temperature, humidity, lack of drinking water, poor nutrition, high air currents, high levels of ammonia, crowding, fear, pain, noise, and transportation conditions.
The most important type of stress is heat stress resulting from high temperatures. Heat stress is divided into two types: acute and chronic heat stress. Acute heat stress refers to short, sudden periods of high temperatures, while chronic heat stress refers to long periods of high temperatures. Of course, ideal temperatures can be determined according to the age of the bird.
The most important symptoms of heat stress:
Panting is the panting that the bird does to evaporate water from the respiratory system (since the bird does not have sweat glands). Continued panting leads to rapid breathing, which leads to energy consumption and thus to an increase in the bird's body temperature, which makes the matter worse. Panting is accompanied by the loss of electrolytes (excreted with the evaporation of water during panting) and this symptom cannot be seen, so it is considered one of the silent killer cases.
Side effects of electrolyte loss include: weakened immunity (which leads to the activity of opportunistic bacteria), and loss of calcium in laying hens results in eggs with thin shells. Loss of electrolytes also leads to kidney dysfunction.
Birds stop eating feed and drinking large amounts of water, which leads to diarrhea and loss of electrolytes, and thus to dehydration.
In the final stages of heat stress (if not dealt with well and quickly), the birds experience muscle and nervous convulsions, then lethargy and collapse of the vital organs and their cessation of function, which leads to the inevitable death of the birds.
The most important measures taken to combat heat stress are:
Place ice blocks in the water tanks (cooling the drinking water) and cover them if they are on the roof of the poultry house to maintain their temperature. The water level in the jumbo drinkers must be raised, while the nipples must be pumped more to encourage the bird to drink water. In addition to operating the cooling system before the heat intensifies. Do not feed 3 hours before the peak of the temperature (because the digestion process raises the bird's body temperature). Place expectorants either in the drinking water or in the cooling system tank if they are available. And - Do not agitate the birds or move them at the peak of the temperature.
Medications used to combat heat stress:
Vitamins:
When heat stress occurs, vitamin AD3E or AD3EC (which is better) is usually used, where vitamin C is given at a dose of 200 g per ton or with drinking water 25 g per barrel, as it raises immunity and is also considered an antioxidant.
Antipyretics:
Aspirin, analgin, paracetamol (of course any one of these can be given to give good results in birds)
