It’s no secret that maintaining careful control of your poultry house environment goes a long way in maximizing bird performance. In addition to ammonia levels and temperature, it’s important to constantly monitor relative humidity levels for maximum affect.
By ventilating poultry houses for relative humidity (RH) level of 50-70% you can prevent moisture build-up and litter stickiness around the drinker/feeder lines and the sidewalls which will help:
- Minimize ventilation during brooding
- Prevent ammonia formation
- Lower incidence of paws lesions
- Save on fuel costs
Maintaining ideal RH levels is easier than you think. Simply:
- Check for air leaks around the inlet machines and check for drafts along sidewalls.
- Refrain from tilling litter and set your de-caker only deep enough to remove cake without disturbing the deeper litter. Learn more about proper de-caking here.
- Pre-heat before bird placement to reach 94°F evenly across the entire litter surface and 2-3 inches deep into the litter.
- Ensure proper warming and mixing across the ceiling by checking static pressure.
- Check RH levels in the morning and add fan time if levels rise about 70%.
Want help managing relative humidity in your houses? Contact your Jones Hamilton Ag representative for support.