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Ventilation System Improving Profits In Chicken Houses
US - When it comes to producing a better chicken for less money, Jan Ray is open to all the help she can get. As part of a University of Georgia study, she's seeing paybacks through equipment that's new to poultry houses.Attic inlets, a ventilation system used for years by hog producers, are saving Ray money on her fuel costs and making her chickens happier.
"It's the most fabulous equipment that I've ever put in a chicken house," said Ray, owner of Ray Farm in Crawfordville.
Attic inlets attached to a chicken house's ceiling pull hot air down from the attic space. This leads to improved air and litter quality while saving money on heating, said Michael Czarick, a UGA Cooperative Extension engineer. Attic inlets are used year-round but are needed most in the winter. During milder months, "if we have baby chicks and it's 80 degrees outside, we still may need to add a little heat to maintain 90 degrees," he said.
In the summer, after chickens are a week or two old, the attic inlets are generally closed to keep the houses cooler. At this point, growers use either conventional sidewall inlets or tunnel ventilation. Attic inlets are designed to complement sidewall inlets, said Brian Fairchild, a UGA Extension poultry scientist.
"The benefit is having more ventilation to provide better air quality without increasing fuel use," he said.
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Source: Gainsvillestimes.com
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