Behavioural and Well Being Comparison of Broiler Chicks in the Different Cooling Regime during Hot-Dry and Hot-Humid Months of summer

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the efficacy of different types of cooling systems on behaviour response and well-being of broiler chicks (3-6 weeks of age) during hot-dry and hot-humid months of summer. The behavioural status of the birds was recorded using handy cam video recorder (SONY 755E) and the responses of the birds to the temperature and humidity variation in all the treatment groups were examined. The observations were taken for two hour every day from 3 to 6 weeks age of broiler chicks. The birds were observed for the various behavioural expressions viz. stereotype pecking, panting, pushing, avoiding, sitting, eating, drinking and lying. The birds were also observed for the normal behavior expression like dust bathing, litter scratching, head scratching, body preening, wing preening, preening to uropygial gland, wing flapping and leg stretching. Fan-Pad (FP) and Fan-Fogger (FF) were used during April to May month and Exhaust-Fan (EF) and Ceiling-Fan (CF) against the control (without any cooling) were used during July to August summer month as cooling devices. In first experiment agonistic behaviour found significantly higher in the control group than both the FP and FF group. Birds were showing more normal expression in both FP and FF group than the control group. In which dust bathing and standing of birds were found significant (p < 0.05) higher in FP group following by FF group and control group. Lying, sitting and panting were significantly higher in the control group than both the cooling system groups. In second experiment EF and CF group also followed the same trend as previous experiment, in which agonistic behaviour like pecking and avoiding were found significant (p < 0.05) higher in the control group than the cooling treatment group. Non-agonistic behaviour found significantly higher in both the EF and CF group. The all cooling devices were significantly improving the behavioral performance of the broiler chicks during summer hot dry and hot humid months. These devices were able to influence the agonistic and non-agonistic behaviour of broiler chicks in positive way during heat stress period.