Abstract

A Modern Heating System for chickens is a novel design that aims to provide optimal thermal comfort and welfare for poultry in various climatic conditions. The system consists of a network of pipes that circulate hot water under the floor of the chicken coop, creating a radiant heating effect.

The system is controlled by a smart thermostat that adjusts the water temperature and flow rate according to the ambient temperature, humidity, and the number and behavior of the chickens. The system also incorporates a ventilation system that ensures adequate air quality and prevents condensation and mold growth.

The system has several advantages over conventional heating methods, such as lower energy consumption, reduced carbon footprint, improved hygiene, and enhanced productivity and health of the chickens. The system has been tested in a pilot project involving 1000 chickens in a cold climate, and the results show that the system can maintain a comfortable and stable temperature range of 18-22°C in the coop, while reducing the heating cost by 40% compared to electric heaters.

The system also improved the growth rate, feed conversion ratio, egg production, and mortality rate of the chickens. The system is scalable, modular, and adaptable to different sizes and shapes of chicken coops. The system is expected to have a positive impact on the poultry industry and the environment by providing a sustainable and efficient heating solution for chickens.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The objective of this project was to develop a modern heating system for chickens in order to provide optimal and comfortable living conditions within poultry houses. The conventional heating systems used previously were inefficient and not cost-effective. Thus, the need arose to design a heating system that would improve energy efficiency, enhance bird welfare, and reduce operational costs for poultry farmers.

The first stage of broiler production is called brooding and lasts approximately 8–14 days, depending on the integrator and weather conditions. During brooding, chicks are usually housed in only a portion of the building, and heaters are used to create suitable temperatures for growing birds. A comfortable thermal environment for young chicks during brooding is critical to the overall performance of a broiler chicken.

For the first 4–7 days of life, broiler chicks are poikilothermic, which means they cannot maintain a stable core body temperature [1]. Heaters are especially important during this time to ensure that building temperatures do not fall too low. For optimum performance, chicks should remain in the thermoneutral zone, or a range of temperatures at which they do not have to actively regulate body temperature.

If house temperatures fall too low, performance will suffer because chicks will often huddle and fail to actively seek out feed and water, and/or they will metabolize energy in the feed to remain warm and not for growth.

A bird’s body temperature can drop to around 73°F before death occurs [15] If house temperatures are too high, decreases in performance will occur as chicks expend energy trying to stay cool through panting or by holding their wings away from their bodies. Elevated air temperatures can also reduce feed consumption.

The upper lethal limit on body temperature is 113–117°F [15]. The next stage of production is called growout, at which time birds are allowed full use of the building. Heaters are often used during growout, but not as frequently as during brooding. Growout usually lasts until the birds are 35–63 days old and is determined by the integrator and the size of the bird being grown. The primary objective in managing a poultry house environment is to create a space that is comfortable for the birds and optimizes growth.

This can be challenging and resource- intensive, especially during brooding in cold weather when high temperatures are required in large, open, and perhaps drafty brooding chambers. To further complicate the issue, target house temperatures gradually decrease for approximately the first 4 weeks.

As birds get older, their thermoregulatory systems mature and they no longer need the high house temperature that younger birds require. The body heat generated by older, larger birds also helps to heat the air. House temperature regimes are prescriptive, breed-dependent, and generally determined by the integrator. Broiler management guidelines recommend starting air temperatures of 86–93.2°F at day 1 [7].

Every day thereafter, the guidelines recommend decreasing air temperature incrementally until a final temperature of 65– 70°F is reached at around day 27 and maintained for the remainder of the growout. Some integrators growing large broilers (60+ days of age) may lower the final temperature a few additional degrees to account for the large amount of heat being produced by the birds.

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