Temperatures and Performance in a Tunnel-Ventilated, High-Rise Layer House

Abstract

Temperatures were recorded from winter to summer in a high-rise, bidirectionally tunnel-ventilated commercial layer house. In cool weather, the house was ventilated through side wall baffle inlets and a series of ceiling inlets. The temperature sensors were located in the vicinity of the tunnel inlets (CENTER sites) near the ends of the house where the exhaust fans were located (END sites), and midway between these locations (INTERMEDIATE sites). Hens and eggs were weighed, and eggs samples for specific gravity determinations, once a month at the sites of the temperature sensors. In winter, the CENTER sites were coolest and the INTERMEDIATE sites tended to be warmest. In spring, there were no differences among areas in average daily temperature. During summer, CENTER sensors were again coolest and END sensors were warmest. CENTER sites had the largest eggs during the winter and summer months. INTERMEDIATE sites tended to have the smallest eggs from January to March. Egg size variation among different areas might have been minimized in winter by covering the tunnel curtain inlet, and in summer by using only information from the sensors nearest the fans to control fan operation when in tunnel ventilation mode. Hens in the lowest tier of cages consistently produced the largest eggs.