FARM STRESS FACTORS

By stress factor we mean a management condition causing an unfavourable reaction in the stock of birds. A poultry man who is out to make a maximum profit from his flocks must reduce stress factors to the barest minimum. During my days as a feed man visiting and advising poultry farmers on their farms I observed of many farm that poultry men were not conscious of these stress factors affecting their flocks. Hence, production on the farm was far below the inherent capacity of the breeds of birds they had. Poultry farmer should realize that to obtain maximum production they should operate management practices that will keep stress factor to the barest minimum. Whenever there is a drop in production or an increase in number of culled birds or whenever birds die, the mediocre poultry man is upset and lashes out against the things that take blame off his own shoulders. He quickly put the blame on the feed and may go ahead to change the feed. When he realizes that he is the only one complaining about feeds in the locality while other farmers who used the same feeds are obtaining satisfactory production, the mediocre poultry farmer changes gear and put the blames on the birds. He then start to complain about the battery and when he realizes that some of his colleagues who take their chicks from the same hatchery are not grumbling he quickly changes gear and finally put the blame on the weather, may be saying that the heat is too much and the birds are not eating. Luckily for the mediocre poultry man, a livestock limited technical sales representative walks in on his routine visits to sell his feeds and give technical advice on poultry husbandry. The sales representative who might also be an expert in poultry management later diagnosis the problem as a combination of stress factors.
         COMMON STRESS FACTORS.
(I) STRESS FACTORS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FEEDERS:  If sufficient feeders are not provided, the most aggressive birds will intimidate the weaker birds and will eat while the weaker birds may stop production or finally die. In every flock of chicken, there is social order called Peck order. The weaker chicken dare not go near aggressive one. Therefore the flock owners should understand the social behavior of chicken and provide enough feeders so that this will enable the aggressive birds to stay together while the weaker birds will congregate together at the feeders.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ENOUGH FEEDERS?
For the birds in cages, there is no problem provided you do not over stock the cells. Each bird should be able to neck out of the cell to eat at the same time (concurrently). In case of birds in dip litter, it is the problem, but the rule of thumb is to see that every birds in the flock has access to feed when you give the first supply of feed in the morning.
(2) STRESS FACTORS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF WATER:  The practice of providing one big water trough centrally placed in pen is not ideal. The aggressive birds will drink all the water and will not live any for the weaker birds to drink. The weaker birds suffer in silence for many hours at the expense of production. Therefore the poultry man should provide many drinkers well distributed in the pen to prevent dehydration due to lack of water. What they drink, they use up fast. Eggs are about 65% water and so is the body tissue. Any water shortage even temporary, is a severe factor that will have adverse effect on production.
(3) STRESS FACTORS DUE TO UNSANITARY SURROUNDINGS: Unsanitary surrounding will cause the multiplication of some microorganisms which lead to diseases, parasites, intestinal cholera, worms and mites which are not uncommon in wet litter. It is a good practice to clean the droppings under the battery cages, daily and remove wood shavings litter at regular interval. Accumulated droppings under cages emit ammonia fumes which affect the birds and subsequently depress production. House flies which trouble the chickens breeds profusely in wet accumulated litter.
(4) STRESS FACTOR DUE TO PARASITES (WORKS LICE AND MITED): The body louse is the one of the most common parasites found on chicken. If the soft feathers around the vent and thighs are parted ,the tiny amber-coloured parasites can be seen on the feathers. Lice and mites can lower production and make birds restless. When the young birds are rather pale and unthrifty without the appearance of any specific disease, worm may be suspected. Worms scar the intestines, rob the birds of feeds, give out poisons and mechanically obstruct the digestive process. Subsequently production may severely be affected. To prevent parasite in your stock, keep the surroundings clean. Remove the latter at short regular interval. Scrub the concrete floor wall. Rest the pens before introducing new birds. For intestinal parasites, it is advisable to deworm birds on regular interval of six weeks.
(5a.) STRESS FACTOR DUE TO PENS TEMPERATURE (TOO HOT OR COLD): Heat stress in poultry is a serious problem that affects all classes of commercial poultry. It is caused by high temperature. When the pen temperature is very high (80-90F), it will affect birds and their generic potential of production. The design of the poultry house can have a marked influence on the internal temperature. A design which gives maximum ventilation will reduce the build-up of temperature and humidity within the pen. Aluminum and other roofing materials can help reduce the internal temperature of the pen to the barest minimum.
(5b). COLD STRESS: When the weather is cold, birds must be protected from the cold wind. If the birds are kept warm they will use part of their ration to generate   heat for themselves, thereby leaving little ration for production.
CONCLUSION: The stress factors discussed above affect the topmost use of feeds even when the feeds are of good quality. Therefore poultry men should attempt to reduce these stress factors to the barest minimum.