Ventilation in Avian Health

The process of replacing stale air with fresh air in a poultry house to maintain optimal conditions for bird health and performance.

Excess moisture in the air, especially problematic in cold weather.

The process of removing heat from the poultry house, especially crucial during hot weather.

Harmful gases like ammonia, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide that can affect bird health.

Fine particles and airborne microorganisms that can be inhaled by birds.

The amount of air exchanged per unit of time in a poultry house, measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm) or cubic meters per hour (m3/hr).

The openings in a poultry house that allow fresh air to enter.

A device that controls the speed and direction of incoming air.

The natural airflow created by wind pressure across the opening of a chimney. It helps remove smoke and gases.

A system of fans and openings that create airflow through a poultry house. It can be adjusted based on temperature and bird weight.

The amount of air a fan can move per hour. Measured in cubic meters per hour (m3/hr).

The amount of fresh air needed per bird per hour, based on factors like bird weight and temperature.

Carbon dioxide, ammonia, and carbon monoxide are harmful gases produced by poultry. Ventilation removes these gases to improve air quality.

Excessive heat can cause stress and illness in poultry. Ventilation removes excess heat and cools the house.

The airflow rate required for a specific number of birds based on weight and temperature.

The phenomenon where hot air rises and is replaced by cooler air, creating a natural air circulation.

A type of ventilation that relies on wind and temperature differences to create air movement, without using mechanical power.

A type of natural ventilation using openings on opposite walls of a building. It depends on wind to push fresh air through the structure.

An opening in the roof or ceiling that allows warm air to escape, creating a suction effect that draws fresh air in from lower openings. This helps with ventilation.

An area within a building where fresh air does not easily circulate, leading to stagnant air build-up.

Occurs when hot air rising from within a building meets cooler air from outside, causing the cooler air to be pulled down into the building.

The process of removing moisture from the air, especially within a building, often done to improve air quality and prevent issues like mold growth.

A ventilation system that uses natural air currents to remove moisture and heat. Warm, moist air rises through an opening in the ceiling, creating a suction that draws fresh air in through openings along the sides of the building.

Fans push air from the ceiling down into the poultry house, distributing the fresh air throughout the space.

Fans pull stale air out of the house, creating a negative pressure that draws fresh air in through openings in the sides.

The primary source of moisture in poultry houses, contributing 75% to 80% of the total moisture.

Moist litter is a sign that ventilation is inadequate and moisture is not being removed efficiently.

The process of removing moisture from the air in a poultry house, crucial in cold weather to prevent issues related to bird health and performance.

The amount of moisture the air can hold depends on its temperature. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air.

A colorless gas with a characteristic odor, lighter than air, produced by the decomposition of organic matter like bird droppings.

High ammonia levels in poultry houses can lead to slower growth rates, reduced appetite, eye irritation, respiratory problems, and increased susceptibility to infections.

The ideal ammonia concentration in a poultry house is below 25 ppm (parts per million), with a preferred level of 10 ppm or less.

Increasing airflow, reducing litter pH below 7 (using phosphoric acid or super phosphate), and regularly replacing the litter are effective ways to control ammonia levels in poultry houses.

Thermometers and sensors placed near the floor level provide the most accurate temperature readings for chicks, as hot air rises.