Emergency Measures for Treating Heat Stroke in Chickens

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat stress.

At this point, the chicken can no longer control its own body temperature: the body temperature has reached a lethal temperature, but it cannot cool down quickly.

When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature of chickens can rise to 46°C or even above within 10-15 minutes.

Due to high body temperature and dehydration, the body's systems and organs will begin to shut down.

Without emergency treatment, heatstroke can lead to a large number of deaths.

Here are some signs that heat stress has turned into heat stroke and needs to be dealt with right away!

including but not limited to:

Chicken no longer moving, paralyzed, unable to stand

Loss of consciousness (coma) in a large number of birds

wheezing

extremely hot body

Individual chickens start to die

neurological symptoms (similar to epilepsy)

When heatstroke occurs, no matter what you do, the damage is irreparable.

Once a chicken begins to show signs of heatstroke, the only action to take is to save the chicken's life.

Here's what to do in an emergency!

1.Cool down!

Cool down, cool down, cool down first, use all means to cool down!

Turn on all the fans, and the wet curtain is turned on to the maximum!

Think of some ways to increase the wind speed and air cooling effect.

Note that this must be the first step to be taken.

2.Water the chicken!

Putting a chicken in cold water can quickly lower its core body temperature. In large-scale modern farming sites, this is unrealistic.

And drenching water may be a better solution.

Water the flock with a hose.

When pouring water, pay attention, first pour it quickly, and then return to carefully pouring those chickens with serious symptoms. Sprinkling water in the chicken house, the water evaporation and heat absorption can also reduce the temperature in the house.

The head is mainly used to cool down, so do not avoid the head when showering.

Watering can also have side effects. It may cause problems such as colds and wet feed in the flock, but otherwise the chickens will die of heat.

3.Keep cooling down! 

If there is a spray or water spray device such as a fog line, it can also be turned on at this time.

Ice cubes can also be placed near chickens with severe heatstroke if they are available.

If there is a movable fan, it can be turned on at this time directly to the flock suffering from heat stroke.

Flush the water line, reduce the water temperature in the water line, and promote the drinking of the flock.

Using roof sprinklers can reduce more heat entering the house.

4. Focus on dead spots

In hot weather, there is a certain ventilation dead angle. This is where the flock is the hottest and should be treated first.

5. Anti-heat stress products such as electrolytes

Add these products to the water immediately. If the chickens are unable to drink on their own, a syringe or dropper may be required (may not be easily achieved on a large scale).

6.night care

Heat stroke generally occurs during the day.

But at night, it is still necessary to maintain a slightly higher wind speed than usual to help the chickens further ease at night.

7.recovery period

Flocks may experience prostration for at least 1 to 3 days after heat stroke.

At this stage, it is still necessary to pay close attention to the flock.