Technical Update

UNDERSTANDING HEAT STRESS IN LAYERS:

Management Tips to Improve Hot Weather
Flock Performance

Periods of high environmental temperatures, often accompanied by high relative humidity, are
common in the summer months. Heat stress can profoundly affect the productivity of a flock.
At environmental temperatures above 33C, high mortality and large production losses are readily
evident, but at less extreme temperatures, heat stress is often overlooked as a cause for poor growth
or subtle losses in egg production and shell quality.

THERMOREGULATION OF THE HEN

Excess body heat is removed by four different mechanisms (see Figure 1).
1. Convection 3. Evaporative Cooling
Body heat lost to cooler surrounding air. Birds will increase Rapid, shallow, open-mouth
exposed surface area by drooping and spreading wings. breathing increases heat loss
Convection is aided with air movement by creating a by increasing the evaporation
wind chill effect. of water from the mouth and
respiratory tract. Evaporative
Vasodilation Blood-swollen wattles cooling is aided by lower
and comb bring internal body heat air humidity.
to the surface to be lost to the cooler
surrounding air. Reduced Body Heat 4. Conduction
Production Body heat loss to cooler
Birds become inactive objects in direct contact with
and listless, decreases the bird (i.e. litter, slats, cage
2. Radiation wire). Birds will seek cooler
feed consumption.
Electromagnetic waves transfer heat places in the house. Birds will
through the air to a distant object. Body lie on floor and dig into litter to
heat is radiated to cooler objects in the
find a cooler place.
house (i.e. walls, ceiling, equipment).

Figure 1. Heat loss mechanisms of the chicken.

Radiation, convection and conduction together EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS

are called sensible heat loss. The thermoneutral
zone of the chicken is generally between 1825C. Feed intake Mortality
Within this temperature range, sensible heat loss Egg production (especially with
is adequate to maintain the birds normal body acute heat stress)
Egg weight
temperature of 41C. Cannibalism
Shell quality
Immunosuppression
Above the thermoneutral zone, the efficiency of Albumen height
sensible heat loss mechanisms diminishes. At Hatchability
Growth
this point, the evaporation of water from the Fertility in roosters
respiratory tract becomes the major heat loss
mechanism of the bird. The evaporation of one Production losses occuring from heat stress
gram of water dissipates 540 calories of body depend on:
heat.
1. Maximum temperature to which the flock was
At temperatures above the thermoneutral zone, exposed
the bird has to expend energy to maintain normal 2. Duration of high temperatures
body temperature and metabolic activities. This
diverts energy away from growth and egg 3. Rate of temperature change
production, resulting in performance loss. 4. Relative humidity of air
 Technical Update UNDERSTANDING HEAT STRESS IN LAYERS
At high environmental temperatures, birds begin to have rapid, shallow, open-mouth breathing,
called the gular reflex, to increase the evaporation of water from the respiratory tract. When panting
fails to maintain body temperature, the bird becomes listless, then comatose and may die.

Flocks not previously acclimated to high temperatures typically suffer the greatest loss in production
and mortality. Young birds exposed to high environmental temperatures are more thermotolerant
later in life, due to the production of heat shock proteins.

RELATIONSHIP OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Heat stress is the combined effect of temperature and relative humidity of air on the bird. This is
known as the effective temperature. Increasing air humidity at any temperature will increase bird
discomfort and heat stress. Producers should carefully monitor temperature and humidity at their
location. Generally, during the daytime, the temperature increases and relative humidity decreases.
The best method of cooling during periods of lower humidity is evaporative cooling (fogger, mister
or cool pad).

Temperature humidity index

During the evening when temperature decreases and humidity typically increases, the added
humidity provided by foggers may increase heat stress. When the humidity is high, increased air
movement using fans alone will reduce heat stress in open houses. Air movement produces a wind
chill effect, which is a perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the body due to the flow of air.
A heat stress index table for commercial layers has been developed (Figure 2).

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY STRESS INDEX FOR COMMERCIAL LAYING HENS

(HEAT STRESS INDEX = 0.6 X DRY BULB TEMPERATURE + 0.4 X WET BULB TEMPERATURE)
Percentage (%)Humidity
Relative Relative
(%)Humidity
C
F CF 5 5 10101515202025253030353540 4045 45 50
50 5555 60
60 65
65 70
70 7575 8080 8585 90
90 9595100
100
20
68 68 6363636363636464646464646464656565
20 65 65
65 6666 66
66 66
66 66
66 6767 6767 6767 67
67 6868 6868
22
72 72 646465656565666666666666676767676767 68
22 68 6868 69
69 69
69 69
69 7070 7070 7070 71
71 7171 7272
Temperature

24
75 75 666667676767686868686969696970707070 70
24 70 7171 71
71 72
72 72
72 7373 7373 7474 74
74 7575 7575
Temperature

26
79 79 686869696969707070707171717172727373 73
26 73 7474 74
74 75
75 75
75 7676 7777 7777 78
78 7878 7979
28
82 82 70707070717172727272737374747474757576
28 76 7676 77
77 78
78 78
78 7979 8080 8080 81
81 8282 8282
30
86 86 717172727373747474747575767677777878 78
30 78 7979 80
80 81
81 81
81 8282 8383 8484 84
84 8585 8686
90
32 32
90 737374747575767677777777787879798080 81 81 8282 83
83 84
84 84
84 8585 8686 8787 88
88 8989 9090
93
34 34
93 757576767777787879798080818182828383 84 84 8484 85
85 86
86 87
87 8888 8989 9090 91
91 9292 9393
97
36 36
97 777778787979808081818282838384848585 86 86 8787 88
88 89
89 90
90 9191 9393 9494 95
95 9696 9797
100
38 38
100 7878797981818282838384848585868688 88 89
89 9090 91
91 92
92 93
93 9595 9696 9797 98
98 9999100
100
Bird Comfort Zone (heat index < 70): No action needed; a good time to prepare for future
Bird Comfort Zone, no action needed, good time to prepare for future hot weather.
hot weather.
AlertAlert,
(heat index 7075):
begin taking Begin
heat taking
stress heat measures
reduction stress reduction measures
in the flock; increaseinventilation
the flock;rate;
increase
turn
ventilation rate; increase fan speed and use foggers (run foggers based on relative
on cooling fans and foggers, monitor bird behavior for signs of heat stress
humidity). Monitor bird behavior for signs of heat stress; ensure drinker and ventilation such as panting or
Hy-Line International
systemsopenaremouth breathing;properly.
functioning ensure drinker system is functioning properly. Genetic Excellence
Danger (heat index 7681): Heat stress conditions exist; take immediate
Danger, Heat stress conditions exist, take immediate measures to reduce heat stress measures to in
reduce
the
heat stress in the flock. Increase ventilation rate in closed houses and use evaporative
coolingflock. Applyon
based additional
relative cooling by spraying
humidity; in open or mistingrun
houses thestir
birds with
fans andwater (makeAdjust
misters. sure that
nutrient
densitythere
of is plenty
birds of air
diet movement
to match any during this in
reduction phase);
feed start evaporativeMove
consumption. cooling
airpads
overand
thetunnel
birds at
a minimum velocity
ventilation. Moveofair1.82.0 meters/second.
over the Periodically
birds at a velocity of 4.0-4.5 flush water
MPH for lines with cooler water.
poultry.

Closely monitor flock behavior. Maximize nighttime cooling.
Hy-Line International Flush the water lines periodically. Closely monitor the flock.
Emergency (heat index > 81): Extreme heat stress conditions exist; avoid handling birds
Emergency,
for transfer extreme heat
or vaccination. stress
Do not conditions
feed exist,
during the avoid handling
hottest birds
part of the day.forDecrease
transfer orlight
vaccination,
intensity to reducedo not
birdfeed duringand
activity thebody
hottest partproduction.
heat of the day; reduce light level reduce bird activity
and thus heat production
Figure 2. Adapted from Temperature and Humidity Stress Index for Laying Hens. Xin, Hongwei and
Harmon, Jay D., "Livestock Industry Facilities and Environment: Heat Stress Indices for Livestock"
(1998) Agriculture and Environment Extension Publications. Book 163, Iowa State University.
THE EFFECT OF HEAT STRESS ON EGG SHELL QUALITY
Heat-stressed laying flocks often lay eggs with thinner, weaker eggshells because of an acid/base
disturbance occurring in the blood as a result of panting (hyperventilation, gular reflex). As birds
hyperventilate to lose body heat, there is excessive loss of CO2 gas from their lungs and blood.
Lower CO2 in blood causes blood pH to elevate or become more alkaline. This condition is called
respiratory alkalosis. The higher blood pH reduces the activity of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase,
resulting in reduced calcium and carbonate ions transferred from blood to the shell gland (uterus).
Increasing the amount of calcium in the diet will not correct this problem. Another contributing
factor to thin eggshells is reduced intake of calcium as feed consumption drops, and an increased
Acid / Base Balance is Disturbed during Heat Stress
loss of phosphorus.

Lungs Blood Shell gland

CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+ CO3 - + H+

Protein-bound Ionized
Non-diffusible diffusible
calcium calcium

Hyperventilation Blood pH increases as a result, producing Reduced secretion

causes increased a respiratory alkalosis; this reduces the of calcium and
loss of CO2 gas from activity of carbonic anhydrase (an carbonate by the
the lungs enzyme critical to form eggshell) shell gland results in
thin, weak eggshells
Figure 3. Demonstration of acid/base balance disruption caused by heat stress.

RESTORING THE ACID/BASE BALANCE

Potassium chloride, ammonium chloride or sodium bicarbonate (23 kg / MT of feed) can
replace electrolytes lost during heat stress and encourage consumption of water. These
treatments have shown beneficial in reducing mortality in acutely heat-stressed flocks.

DRINKER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT OF THE HEAT-STRESSED FLOCK

During periods of high environmental temperature, the flock has a high demand for drinking water.
The water-to-feed consumption ratio is normally 2:1 at 21C, but increases to 8:1 at 38C.
Drinking water must be available to heat-stressed flocks in the amount they require.
Ensure that drinkers have sufficient water flow (> 70 ml/minute/nipple drinker).
Ensure that sufficient drinker space is being provided and drinkers are functioning properly.
For floor-reared flocks, providing additional drinkers can help accommodate the increased water
consumption.
Cooler water will help reduce the birds core temperature and thus reduce the impact of heat
stress.
Cooling drinking water by flushing water lines during the afternoon has been shown to increase
feed consumption and sustain egg production in heat-stressed layers.
Plastic water lines rapidly equilibrate with the environmental temperature, making it difficult to
cool water temperature below the air temperature, particularly at the end of long water lines.
Keeping water below 25C will help maintain higher water intakes and therefore encourage
higher feed intake. Water temperature above 30C will negatively impact water intake and have
further negative impact on feed intake.
 Technical Update UNDERSTANDING HEAT STRESS IN LAYERS
Use vitamin and electrolyte supplements in the drinking water to replenish the loss of sodium,
chloride, potassium and bicarbonate in the urine. Electrolyte supplements are best used in
anticipation of a rapid rise in environmental temperature.
Drinking water from overhead water tanks can become hot if exposed to direct sunlight. These
water tanks should be a light color, insulated and covered to avoid direct sunlight. Water tanks
are ideally placed inside the house or underground (see Figure 12).

MANAGEMENT OF THE HEAT-STRESSED FLOCK

Do not disturb the birds during the hottest time of the day (afternoon and early evening). Adjust
work schedules and lighting programs so that routine work is done early in the morning or at night.
Management practices that require bird handling, such as beak trimming, transfer and vaccinations
(by eyedrop, wingweb or injection), should be done in the early morning hours.
Use foggers and misters to increase the evaporative cooling during the day. Run the foggers for
2 minutes every 10 minutes. Fogger run times can be adjusted based on house temperature and
humidity.
Fogging the inlet air in negative pressure ventilation systems has a good cooling effect.
Using roof sprinklers during times of extremely high temperature can remove heat from the roof
and cool the inside of the house.
Do not run the feeders during the hottest time of the
day.
Adjust fan thermostats so all fans run continuously
during the night and early morning hours. The goal
is to maximize nighttime cooling in the house to
prolong the period of moderate temperatures the
next morning.
Increase the movement of air in open houses with
stir fans. Ensure a minimum velocity of 1.82.0
meters/second in the bird areas.
Caged birds are more susceptible to heat stress
because they are unable to seek a cooler place Figure 4. Stir fans and foggers increase
and there is less opportunity for conductive heat air velocity within the house and create a
loss in cages. The temperature within a cage can cooling effect.
be much higher than the measured air Placement of Stir Fans and Foggers in Open Houses
temperature in the walkway. Increased
air velocity within the cages increases
the convective heat loss and removes 15 meters between fans (92 cm diameter) 1 meter between foggers
trapped air between birds.
Do not overstock cages; overcrowded
cages allow less air flow between birds,
reducing the effectiveness of ventilation
and increasing the heat load in the
house. Figure 5. Placement of stir fans and foggers in open
Transport birds early in the morning or houses.
at night. Place fewer birds per transport
crate and have empty crates on the truck to allow space for ventilation around the birds during
the move.
 AMBIENT Air Movement (m3 / hour per 1000 birds)
TEMP.
(C) 1 week 3 weeks 6 weeks 12 weeks 18 weeks 19+ weeks
W-36 HLB W-36 HLB W-36 HLB W-36 HLB W-36 HLB W-36 HLB
32 340 360 510 540 1020 1250 2550 3000 5950 7140 46509350 934012000
21 170 180 255 270 510 630 1275 1500 2550 3050 42505100 51006800
10 120 130 170 180 340 420 680 800 1870 2240 25503400 30604250

Figure 6. Recommended ventilation rates for commercial layers (W-36 and Hy-Line Brown). For
more information, see Hy-Line International Management Guides. Acknowledgment: Dr. Hongwei
Xin, Professor, Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering and Department of Animal
Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.

LIGHTING PROGRAMS FOR HEAT-STRESSED FLOCKS

Adjust the lighting program to provide more morning light hours (and fewer afternoon light
hours) to encourage feed consumption during the cooler period of the day.
Use a midnight feeding of 12 hours to provide an additional feeding during the cool of the
night to encourage feed intake during hot weather. (For more information on midnight feeding,
see Hy-Line International Management Guides.)
In extreme heat stress, lower the intensity of light during the hottest time of the day to reduce
bird activity.
Intermittent lighting programs have also been used successfully in heat stress conditions to
encourage feed intake.

NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HEAT-STRESSED FLOCK

Closely monitor the feed consumption of the flock during hot weather. It is important to rebalance
the diet for other critical nutrients, particularly amino acids, calcium, sodium and phosphorous
according to the birds productivity demand (i.e. stage of production) and the observed feed intake.
Insufficient amino acid intake is the primary reason for productivity loss during hot weather.
Several strategies may be employed to help to manage elevated temperatures and maintain higher
levels of feed intake.
Avoid feeding times during hot periods of the day and encourage as much consumption as
possible in the early morning or evening.
Normally a maximum 1 hour for feeder clean-out time is recommended, but this can be
extended to 3 hours when the temperature exceeds 36C.
Consider adding a 1- to 2-hour midnight feeding.
Alter feed particle size, either by increasing it or by feeding a crumble diet. With crumble
diets in laying flocks, a supplementary source or presentation of large particle limestone is
recommended.
 Technical Update UNDERSTANDING HEAT STRESS IN LAYERS
When formulating the diet for hot weather conditions, there are several things to consider:
Formulate diets using highly digestible materials, particularly protein sources. Metabolism of
excess protein is particularly heat-loading on the bird and exacerbates the ionic misbalance.
Formulate to digestible amino acid targets and do not apply a high crude protein minimum in the
formula. Synthetic amino acids can reduce crude protein in the diet without limiting amino acid
levels.
Increasing the proportion of energy contribution from highly digestible lipid, rather than starches
or proteins, will reduce the body heat production resulting from digestion. This is known as heat
increment and is lowest with the digestion of dietary fat.
The phosphorous requirement increases during heat stress. Increases of up to 5% should be
appropriate under heat stress conditions.
The ratio of chloride to sodium in the diet should be between 1:1 and 1.1:1 in hot weather
conditions, with a target dietary electrolyte balance (molar equivalence of Na+ + K+ Cl-) of
about 250 mEq/kg. Due to elevated electrolyte loss in hot weather, higher sodium levels may be
required (0.020.03 % more than in non-heat stress conditions). Care should also be given that
water is not providing a significant level of chloride to the birds.
Due to the reduced feed intake, vitamin and trace mineral intake is also reduced. Many of
these micro nutrients, particularly B vitamins and antioxidants, may be beneficial to the bird in
heat stress conditions. Vitamin C at 200-300 mg/kg of diet can be added to the diet to improve
performance.
Organic zinc may improve shell quality by assisting the activity of the carbonic anhydrase
enzyme, as zinc is a key mineral element of this critical enzyme.
Organic copper may also be helpful, by reducing the negative antagonism between inorganic
copper and zinc sources during digestion.
Do not use nicarbazin (anticoccidial drug) during hot weather, as it can increase heat stress-
induced mortality.

VACCINATION CONSIDERATIONS DURING HEAT STRESS

Adjust the amount of medications and volumes of water used for water vaccination to reflect the
increased water consumption of the flock during hot weather.
Water vaccinations during hot weather should ideally be administered within one hour.
Use caution when spray vaccinating during hot weather. Newcastle and bronchitis vaccine
reactions can occur in birds hyperventilating because of heat stress.
Use caution when water vaccinating a flock during hot weather. Do not withhold drinking water
from the flocks during hot weather. It is best to water vaccinate flocks just after the lights come on
in the morning.
Postpone vaccinations during periods of heat stress whenever possible. Heat-stressed birds have
decreased immune function and may not respond as well to vaccination.
Live vaccines are subject to accelerated deterioration when exposed to high heat. Maintain the
refrigeration of live vaccines until the vaccines are administered. Bronchitis and AE vaccines are
particularly heat-sensitive and titers can be lost rapidly.
 Open roof ridge allows hot air to rise and exit the house
(chimney effect)

Roof insulation or thatching

Roof painted white or a (Ceiling insulation value of
reflective color to reflect heat 2.25 m2 C / Watt)

Foggers Stir Fans

Window shades Sufficient roof

overhang
(> 1.1 m) to
keep direct
sunlight from
hitting birds

Remove manure to improve ventilation and

remove heat source
Low-cut grass
around houses will
be cooler than
bare ground and
radiate less heat Orient house on an east-west axis to minimize solar heating and
into the house direct sunlight through windows
Figure 7. Open house design for reducing heat stress. Genetic Excellence

HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS DURING HEAT STRESS

The ventilation system should be checked to insure
efficient operation prior to the arrival of the hot season.
Clean and ensure function of fan louvers. Fan belts
should be tightened or changed to avoid slipping or
breaking during periods of high temperature. Air inlets
must be adequate to supply the airflow needed to
ventilate the house during warm weather. Inadequate
inlet space will throttle down the fans and decrease
airflow. Inlets should be kept clean and free of anything Figure 8. Use of thatching material
that might restrict the flow of incoming air. Use baffle (paddy straw, corn stalks, sugarcane
boards to direct incoming air onto the birds. tops) to reduce solar heating of the roof.

Thermostats should be checked for accuracy. An

auxiliary power system must be in place in case of a
power outage during hot weather.
Check house static pressure settings in negative
and positive pressure ventilation systems to ensure
adequate and uniform airflow (12.530 Pa or 0.050.12
in. water).
In houses equipped with evaporative cooling systems,
the pads should be cleaned or replaced when they
become clogged. Water flow over the pads should be
uniform with no dry areas. Air will flow preferentially
Figure 9. Porous window shades block
through dry areas since there is less resistance.
direct sunlight from entering the house,
Check the water filters and change if necessary. but allow air to pass through.
A clogged water filter restricts the flow of fresh drinking
water into the house.
Clean spider webs and dust from window screens frequently to improve ventilation inside the house.
Figure 10. Sunlight should not Figure 11. Manure allowed to Figure 12. Having the water
shine directly on birds. Use accumulate reduces ventilation tank inside the house keeps the
sufficient roof overhangs or in cages. water cooler.
window shades to block sunlight.
12:00 pm
Remove manure from the house before the m
00 a
hot season, if practical. Heat produced during 10: 2:0
0pm
the decomposition of manure contributes No
Fe
to the heat load in the house. The presence Drin ed
m

kin i
0a

of large amounts of manure in shallow pit Do N gW

ng ter Flu
8:0

ot
Dis
houses or under cage batteries restricts the tur

4:0
a
b

0 pm
movement of air.

Bir
ds

sh
Provide Feed

Environmentally controlled houses and

6:00 am

Provide Feed
curtain-sided houses that can convert to
tunnel ventilation are ideal in areas subject to

6:00 pm
high environmental temperatures. Open
houses should utilize stir fans and fogging
systems.
0 am
4:0

Insulated roofs reduce the radiation and

8:0

conduction of solar heat through the roof to

0p
m

the interior of the house. m

Provide Feed
0a Midnight Lighting
2:0
Ensure the water system can accommodate
10:
00 p
m
the water demands for foggers and 12:00 am
evaporative cooling systems, and increased Figure 13. Management schedule during times of
bird water consumption. The availability of heat stress.
drinking water to a heat-stressed flock
should never be compromised.
Remove unneeded metal objects from around houses (i.e., machinery, vehicles, nest boxes, junk)
that could radiate heat into open houses.

The key to minimizing the effects of heat stress is anticipating periods of high
environmental temperatures, and implementing appropriate management and
nutritional measures prior to the rise in temperatures.

Hy-Line International | www.hyline.com

2015 Hy-Line International