Themost commonmeasures to reduce stress
relate to climate, lighting, water and feed
management as well as nutritional aspects.
Stress can be reduced in practical ways, for
example by preventing transport in hot periods,
preventing infections asmuch as possible
through good hygiene and feedingmethods,
maintaining routines, avoiding a dusty
environment and lowering the animal density in
the house during hot periods.
Climatemeasures include suffcient ventilation,
not too little or toomuch, andmaintaining clean
air inlets and channels. Values should be placed so
the air goes directly to the birds. Under-air pressure
must be intact andhigh ammonia levels prevented.
Extra secondary ventilators and coolingwith a
water spraying systemmay be considered.
Lightmanagement shouldbe scheduled to keep
birds calm.Walk through the house in a calm
manner, so birds standup and the heat can escape
fromunderneath their body andwings.
Water and feedmanagement includes adequate
goodquality cool water with extra drinkers if
necessary. Feeding times shouldbe adapted to
ensuremore is suppliedduring the coolest periods
of the day or at night.
Stress Relief Pack
Changes in management routines or the environment can cause stress for poultry.
Typicalexamplesareachangeindiet,changingfeedingtimes,achangeinmicro-climate
orvaccination. Thesechangesshouldbeminimisedasmuchaspossible, buttheeffects
of stress canbe reducedwhen they occur.