With the return of hot summer weather, Cumberland reminds producers of essential management steps to maintain proper ventilation in poultry houses.

“Ventilation is one of the most critical factors for providing an ideal environment to keep birds comfortable and operations successful,” said Darrell Nevins, Cumberland district manager. “Air moving efficiently during hot weather is a priority because heat stress can be seriously detrimental to bird health and productivity.”He recommends these maintenance steps to achieve peak ventilation performance:

Evaporative cooling system – Clean or replace pads as needed. Flush the system at least once per week during the summer and more frequently as needed. This helps prevent the concentration of contaminants, minerals and/or chemicals in the water that can build up and reduce cooling effectiveness. Finally, ensure the spray bar is delivering the proper amount of water to the pads, that no holes are stopped up and that appropriate valves are open.

Curtains and tunnel doors – Make sure that tunnel doors can open for the right amount of airflow to move through the poultry house. A full opening of the tunnel door should be measured from the tip of the door (when fully opened) to the top of the opening. That measurement should equal the height of the tunnel door. If curtains are used, ensure that they are not full of holes when closed and that they are able to fully open.

Be mindful with curtains there is a “triangular dead spot” at the curtain end of the house. In some houses, this dead spot has been addressed by positioning fans to help reduce that area of “stale air.” Along with ensuring that the curtains are functioning properly, check to make sure that those fans are maintained and functioning properly.

Ventilation doors – Pay special attention to vent doors, which can play a crucial role in summer ventilation, especially for young birds during cool nights. These doors move air onto the ceiling before it drops down, helping to avoid chilling baby chicks without feathers. Be sure to pull air where birds are located and not backflow it from the off end, which could be contaminated if not careful.

Fans – Check that fans are operating at optimal capacity by ensuring that shutters are clean and are able to open and close properly. Confirm that bearings are properly greased, that belts are properly tightened and are not riding low in the pulley. Replace belts before they become worn and break.

For additional information, Nevins advises that producers access USDA and university ventilation resources, check with their poultry equipment dealer or visit cumberlandpoultry.com.