Mortality and Body Weight of Breeder Chicks as Influenced by Air Temperature Fluctuations

Abstract

Newly hatched male grandparent breeder chicks in commercial containers (80 chicks per container) were exposed for 50 hr to a constant temperature of 85°F or one of three cyclic temperature ranges: 85±5°F, 85±10°F, and 85±15°F. The cyclic temperatures simulated possible thermal conditions during air shipments. The chicks were subjected to the temperature regimes either with or without a supple of feed and water supplement (Aqua-Jel). The results showed no significant difference (P>.05) in chick mortality or body weight loss between the constant temperature and the cyclic temperatures for both nutritional conditions. Chicks with feed and Aqua-Jel supply, however, had significantly lower (P < .001) body weight loss (2.7±0.7%) than the chicks without feed and Aqua-Jel (15.0±0.5%) These results suggest that group-housed breeder chicks in commercial containers can tolerate temperature fluctuations of up to 30°F, given a thermoneutral mean temperature.