Effects of Sidewall Brooding Polymer Cover Colours on the Indoor Climatic Condition and Physiological Response of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Aims: This study seeks to evaluate the growth performance and physiological response of broiler chickens brooded with blue, black, white and green side-curtains. It is essential to ensure that the thermal conditions within the poultry building are controlled most especially in the tropical climate where temperature is observed to exceed the thermoneutral zones of broiler chickens. During the brooding stage of broiler chicks, suitable temperature and relative humidity is crucial to ensure the welfare of the chicks. Methodology: In this study, four (4) brooding polymer colours were used namely; white, blue, black and green. Two hundred and fifty (250) day-old-chicks were acquired from a reputable hatchery, only two hundred and forty was (240) used for this experiment. For each of the polymer colour treatments, there were sixty (60) birds which were further divided into six (6) replicates, that is ten (10) chicks per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Results: The results of the study revealed that the highest average temperature during the brooding stage was observed in the green polymer and the lowest temperature observed in the black polymer covering in the early hours of the day. The lowest indoor humidity (8.97%) was observed in the second and fourth weeks, while the highest humidity (52.76%) was observed in the white polymer in the sixth week. The indoor temperature ranges between 33.16°C and 33.89°C. During the brooding stage, the highest temperature (33.89°C) was recorded in the first week, there were no significant differences among the treatments, the lowest indoor temperature (33.16°C) was observed in the third week (at the end of the brooding stage). Conclusions: In conclusion, there was no significant difference in the cloaca temperature of the birds reared in the four (4) sidewall polymer covers, which implies that farmers can adopt any of the polymer covers.