Summer Environmental Control | 20 Suggestions for Using Water Curtain

In the hot summer, the high temperature weather brings difficulties to the management of broiler chickens. In order to provide a comfortable environment for broiler chickens, the scientific and correct application of cooling Pad technology to large-scale chicken farms has become a trend by controlling the air cooling coefficient, humidity coefficient, perceived temperature and heat stress index of broiler chickens at different ages.

Daily use of Cooling Pads should pay attention to the following issues:

Based on factors such as the age of the chicken, the temperature of the external environment, the target temperature, and the air cooling effect, the number of longitudinal fans to be turned on, the water pump switch time, and the switch time interval are determined.

In the initial stage of using the cooling pad, the principle of gradual progress should be followed to allow the chickens to have an adaptation process. The opening time of the cooling pad water supply should be gradually increased and the closing time of the water pump should be gradually reduced. The water supply area of the cooling pad water supply should be gradually increased from 1/4. After the Water Curtain paper is completely dry, the water pump should be started to supply water. The water curtain should be kept in a gradually dry and gradually wet cycle to achieve the best effect of steam evaporation from the surface of the water curtain paper.

The actual temperature in the chicken coop is more than 5 ℃ higher than the target temperature.

During the chick rearing period, there are fewer feathers and the perceived temperature is lower. Use cooling pads with caution.

The cooling temperature of the water curtain is set to be 0.5 ° C~1.5 ° C higher than the opening temperature of the last longitudinal fan to avoid a large cooling amplitude.

cooling pad air deflectors must be used to prevent wet and cold air from directly blowing onto the chickens near the cooling pad.

Starting with vertical ventilation mode for water supply, it is possible to consider using transitional ventilation humidification curtains to cool down first, then slowly closing some of the air doors, and finally using vertical ventilation humidification curtains to cool down, allowing the chickens to have an adaptation process. Then gradually increasing the number of vertical fans can achieve the expected surface wind speed and cooling effect.

When using the tunnel ventilation humidification curtain cooling mode, the wind speed of the cooling pad and the insulation board should not be too low or too high. For ground level broiler chickens, it is recommended to add wind curtains spaced 9-12 meters apart to reduce the cross-sectional area of the chicken coop and increase the surface wind speed, controlled at 2.5 meters per second.

Pay attention to the changes in temperature, humidity, and surface wind speed inside the house, as well as the changes in perceived temperature of the chicken population and the wind speed through the curtain and insulation board. The cooling effect after using the cooling pad must be quantified. At the same time, pay close attention to the behavioral changes of broiler chickens, such as changes in feeding, drinking water, feathers, nasal fluid characteristics, feces, etc. at different time periods. Through comprehensive analysis and flexible application, maximize the evaporative cooling effect of the cooling pad.

Adjust the water supply time and interval in a timely manner in case of sudden weather changes. If the temperature is low at night and the cooling pad is stopped, longitudinal ventilation and transitional ventilation can be flexibly switched. The number of fans used is changing. Pay attention to the slight changes in the actual temperature, surface wind speed, and relative humidity inside the house after stopping water supply to avoid causing significant changes in perceived temperature and achieve the goal of comfort and normal feeding for the chicken flock.

The change in negative pressure after using a cooling pad should not be too large, and should be maintained at 0.05~0.1 inches of water column (12.5~25Pa).

The area of the cooling pad needs to be sufficient. When the area is small, there may be a high wind speed passing through the curtain, causing an increase in humidity and perceived temperature inside the shed. At the same time, the heat stress index is rising, resulting in poor cooling effect and high negative pressure inside the shed, causing hypoxia and low feeding for chickens.

The number of fans is sufficient, especially when the external humidity is above 80%. If the cooling pad is stopped and only a small number of fans are used, the air cooling effect of the chicken body is limited, and heatstroke is prone to occur. Pay attention to the maintenance and repair of the fan in daily life, pay attention to the tightness of the motor conveyor belt, clean the fan dust in a timely manner, and measure the fan speed in a timely manner when the speed is slow, in order to grasp its effective exhaust efficiency.

The chicken house keeps a good airtight performance. The cooling pad is filled with water, and the fresh air in the house is evenly distributed. The cooling effect of the chickens is obvious, the gap wind is less, and the incidence rate of respiratory diseases is low. The wind speed across the curtain is 2 m/s, the wind speed on the surface of the flat breeding house is 2.5 m/s, and the wind speed on the surface of the cage breeding house is 3 m/s.

In hot and humid weather, use cooling pads with caution and pay attention to the heat stress index of broiler chickens. If the Fahrenheit temperature+relative humidity is ≥ 160, there may be some heatstroke deaths (Fahrenheit temperature=32+1.8x Celsius temperature). When the external relative humidity is greater than 80%, it is recommended to close the cooling pads and increase the number of fans to improve the surface wind speed of the chicken population in the house.

Regularly inspect and maintain equipment such as water pumps and cooling pads. A large amount of power generation diesel and backup water pumps must be prepared in advance. The cooling pads should be promptly cleaned of foreign objects and checked for rodent damage. When not in use, they should be kept sealed, dry, clean, and hygienic. It is strictly prohibited to water them, which may cause chickens to catch cold. Choose cooling pads with high cooling efficiency, long service life, and low resistance loss.

The circulating water storage tank is covered and sealed, with regular and quantitative water replenishment every day. The water temperature in the tank is controlled at around 20 ° C~25 ° C, keeping it fresh, clean, and free of weeds, snakes, mice, frogs, and other small animal carcasses.

Most people use cooling pads from 10:00 to 16:00, using cooling pad air deflectors, scientifically adjusting the opening size, and keeping the insulation board suitable for a stable wind speed of 2 meters per second to prevent wet and cold air from directly blowing onto the chicken near the cooling pad. Pay attention to the changes in wind speed of the cooling pad to avoid a drastic increase in humidity inside the house. Pay attention to the changes in perceived temperature caused by changes in surface wind speed and temperature and humidity inside the chicken coop.

By carefully observing the chicken flock and adopting a scientific and effective ventilation mode in a timely manner, before using a cooling pad, start with minimum ventilation, transition ventilation, and longitudinal ventilation. Start using the cooling pad: longitudinal ventilation - transitional ventilation - water supply to the humidifying curtain - water supply to the longitudinal ventilation humidifying curtain (open several air doors at the cooling pad end) - water supply to the longitudinal ventilation humidifying curtain; When switching between the evaporative cooling mode of the transitional ventilation humidifying curtain and the evaporative cooling mode of the longitudinal ventilation humidifying curtain, and when the cooling pad is stopped, the switching between longitudinal ventilation and transitional ventilation, the number of air doors used, the size of the intake area, and the number of fans are adjusted. By controlling the air cooling coefficient, humidity coefficient, perceived temperature, and heat stress index of broiler chickens at different ages, a constant perceived temperature is maintained through various management measures.

The purpose of using a cooling pad is to control temperature, not to cool down.