Source: Jacquie Jacob, UK poultry extension project manager

Cold weather will be a fact of life for the next few months. As a result, poultry producers will face an increase in fuel costs to maintain poultry house temperatures. However, you can do several things to minimize these expenses.

1. House tightness. For equipment to efficiently maintain the required in-house environment, the house must not have any leaks. Complete pressure checks to identify problem areas. To conduct a pressure check, close all doors, vents, fan shutters, etc.; turn on one 48-inch fan; and then check the static pressure. A house needs to be able to pull a 0.12 (inches water) static pressure. If your house does not pull 0.12, here are some things you can do to tighten up your house: Cinch curtains up tight with curtain laps over the tops and lumber strips at the bottom. Patch all holes in the curtains. Seal all leaks in the side and end walls with caulk or spray foam insulation. Maintain seals around doors and vents. Thermal imaging or smoke testing houses will help find leaks.

2. Fan maintenance. Routinely check fans between flocks to ensure that belts are tight and shutters are clean and properly operating. Make sure fan blades are clean. Grease any bearings as needed. Replace worn fan belts and repair bent shutters and any others that do not close.

3. Vent maintenance. Vents routinely cycle open and closed during the winter months. Check the status of the cable or rod systems, pulleys, insulation on the back of the vent doors, vent hinges, as well as gears and fittings. Make sure vents close tight.

4. Heater maintenance: A heater that is not properly operating is wasting fuel. Check that the burner and pilot orifices are not plugged, that direct spark igniters will fire, that regulators are properly operating and the pressure. Check all plumbing fittings for leaks if the system pressure is too low. Ensure that the deflectors are in place so that heated air is directed to the correct location.

5. Correct placement of thermostats for heaters and fans. Placing the heater thermostats by fans will result in the heaters continuously running. Similarly, placing fan thermostats in the path of hot air for heaters will keep the fans running. Every time you enter your houses, check to see which fans are running. If the same fans are running every time, you may have a problem.

6. Insulation maintenance. Even with solid sidewall houses, two places in every house are nearly always subject to heat loss–the tunnel inlet and fans. It is difficult to add insulation to the tunnel inlets because they must be left so they can operate during emergency situations. Tunnel doors that properly seal are a great remedy to the problem.

For more information about poultry production and house maintenance, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

 

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ANR