Poult Temperature Management

When a poult hatches, its thermoregulatory system is not totally developed, meaning it cannot control its internal body temperature. The development of this system takes place during the first four to six days after hatch. The poults attempt to keep their internal temperature in a thermal neutral zone. When the environment is not optimal, this forces the birds to alter their metabolic rate in order to regulate their temperature. In doing so, this diverts the necessary resources from general development of the bird, and in extreme cases, it can lead to death.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to assess poult temperature. When in the thermal neutral zone, poults are able to keep their body temperature at a constant level without altering their metabolic rate and focus on the basic requirements of growth at this time, such as eating and drinking.

Temperature Assessment
Poult temperature should be assessed at the hatchery, at the following stages:

• During pre-pull assessment
• At time of pull
• In the service room
• In the poult holding room

Poult temperature should also be checked upon arrival at the farm for placement. Poult temperature can be assessed directly or indirectly. Direct assessment is achieved by physically taking the poult’s temperature via a specialized  thermometer and is the best way to confirm the internal temperature of a poult.

How to perform a direct temperature assessment:

• Requires the use of an accurate e-thermometer such as the Braun Digital Stick Thermometer PRT1000
• Sampled poults should be taken from different areas of the containment
• Expose the cloaca, then slowly
• introduce the thermometer
• Thermometer depth should not exceed 6 to 8 mm (0.33 in.)
• Poults with very dirty or wet cloaca should not be sampled

Appropriate internal temperature (thermal neutral zone) should be 39.4 to 40.0 C (103 to 104 F).

Indirect assessment includes identifying particular behaviours. Poults naturally change their behaviour to compensate for temperatures that affect their thermal neutral zone. For example, significant changes in vocalization can indicate the environment is too cold or too hot. The following are examples to consider when evaluating poult temperature indirectly.

Indications that the environment is too cold: Poults will huddle together, and refrain from eating or drinking. Indications that the environment is too hot: Poults will pant, and poults will open their wings.

Pre-warming the barn prior to poult placement is an important step in achieving the target environmental temperature. When both the environmental temperature and the poult’s internal temperature are within appropriate ranges, you will find the poults are quiet and evenly spread out in their surroundings.

The best way to be sure the poults are maintaining an appropriate internal temperature, at any stage during the first week, is via direct assessment with a thermometer.

Indirect assessment is important to consider and a good indicator of poult temperature. Additionally, poult temperature can be taken at the hatchery and during transport via weight loss assessment.