R. Michael Hulet Department of Poultry Science Penn State University Recently, weather reports showed unseasonably warm tem peratures in Arkansas and Texas, triple digit weather? I havenit heard of disastrous effects on poul try production in that area, but certainly without adequate house and bird management preparation, mortality, morbidity, reduced gain and inefficiency of performance would have occurred. In areas in the South, the producers expect the weather to turn warm to hot and make plans to ameliorate the effects. If they dom't prepare, they suf (er the consequences. As the old saying goes Ilf you fail to plan, you plan to failt. The time to prepare for avoiding the effects of high ambient temperature is now. The two strategies that are used to dimmish the effects of high tem perature on poultry are mainte nance ot ventilation equipment and reviewing what to do in when high temperatures endanger your poultry flock. Many times we get distracted and forget to prepare for the advent of summer weather. It is usually the early heat spell that causes the greatest damage and loss of birds due to heat stress than when birds have been gradually acclimated to higher temperatures m the middle of the summer. Therefore, take the covers off your tunnel fans, get you; migra tion fences out, reset the phases on your computer controls or think about what has to be done BUY SEU.TRAI3E OO BENT THB< 1111 II 111 l (CLfISSIHeP APS ■ Ml CONSTRUCTION ■■ EQUIPMENT 100's of new hydraulic cy linders, all sizes and lengths, make offer. (717)359-9423 after 6pm. 1150 A track loader, runs good, $B2OO. 717-582-4872 1986 JCB 14008 backhoe, ROPS, extendable dipper stick, 4WD, $14,000. 410/592-5581. 1988 JD 455 G crawler loader, excellent condition, $27,900, (301) 371-5500. 1989 John Deere 590 D ex cavator, best offer! 717-384-3901 Columbia Co. 1990 Case 580 K, 4WD, cab, E-stick, 4nl bucket, auxiliary hydraulics, VG condition, $25,750. (301)371-5500. as far as ventilation and fogging and at what temperatures. If you canft remember, find someone who does know before you are in the middle of a crisis. Also, re mind your employees what needs to be done in high heat and hu midity situations. The first equipment that comes to mind in making sure you are prepared for summer weather is your fans. Fans are rated for a particular efficiency to work within your house, but if they have dirty blades, if the wire mesh is coated with dust, if the shutters are stuck and dirty, and if the fan belt is loose, then you are loosing precious air velocity and volume that should be used to ventilate your birds. The next machinery that needs attention is the fogging system. Have you taken the nozzles out and soaked them in vinegar or some solution to get them clean and clear from particles that might inhibit their ability to deliver the right volume of water and in the right droplet size to maximize evaporative cooling? If not, now is the time. The pump also needs to be checked and water line rinsed and sanitized. Other strategies to remember during high heat situations are to remove the feed from the bird in the heat of the day. The reason is that the consumption of feed pro duces heat during digestion and adds to the heat stress of the birds. One effective way to get this done is to raise the feed line while there is still feed in it early in the morning. Raising the feed line gives the birds added floor space and allows all birds to eat all the way down the feeder line when the feed is re- PHONE; 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047 FAX 717-733-6058 Mou . Tues. , Wed.. Frl. 8 AM to 5 PM, Thurs 7 AM to 5 PM 1994 Bobcat 763, skid steer loader, 850 hrs. Very good condition. Asking $13,750/obo. 610-380-9826. 205 CAT track hoe, 1988, good condition, $29,500. (610)273-2946. Air Comp. Sultalr diesel, JD engine painted, good run ner, $2,400 w/breaker air comp. Sullair diesel JD en gine aplnted, hose reels w/ hammer $4,500. Air comp. Sullair skid mounted $5OO. BWI2OAD ASRH roller diesel, $7,000. Breakers and'drills from $375. (410)455-0177. turned to the birds. Otherwise, the birds cause stress and carcass damage as they crowd the feeders when the auger fills the feed pans. On the other hand, water helps to* cool birds. We have found that the water in the water lines rapidly reach ambient temperatures. That means, when the temperature reaches 95 degrees in the house, the temperature of the water in the line is 95 degrees and inhibits some consumption by the birds. Where are the water lines usually placed in poultry houses? Near the ceiling, one of the hotter places in the house. Flushing ol hot water lines is thought of as a good strategy. However, when the tempera ture reaches 95 degrees or higher, birds donit drink much no matter what the temperature of the water. Therefore, refreshing water lines is of more value toward the end of the day when the birds go back on feed. Because of the feed and wa ter. refusal by birds during very high temperatures, the other strategies of increasing airflow over the birds, evaporative cooling and feed removal during the heat of the day become very important management techniques. The story is told of the em ployee who listed in his job ap plication that his greatest asset was his ability to sleep when the wind blows. When the strong winds came, the employer went to check out his farm and found all in order because his employee had been prepared and was fast asleep in the barn. May you be able to sleep when the temperature gets hot because your houses are prop erly prepared and your equipment is properly maintained k , <-ny { Caterpillar 955 L Crawler Loader < ► Rebuilt undercarriage, rebuilt loader linkage. } { Heavy Equipment header P arts, Inc. { i 10070 Allentown Blvd , Grantville, PA 17028 ? } (800)446-0505 (717)469-0039 ( w 25.000 “91 lot 4900 rollback, re built, DT-466 $15,000. FD-30 dozer, needs con verter $7,500. (717)698-8311. Case 580 B, C, D, E. Wain Roy backhoe, quick cou pler system w/24’ bucket, good condition, $1,200. BALANDA EQUIPMENT P.O. Box 407 Rt 29 Palm, PA 18070 1-800-322-8030 Case 5808 good used cab w/glass, fenders. Good condition, $950. BALANDA EQUIPMENT P.O. BOX 407 Rt 29 Palm, PA 18070 1-800-322-8030 Cat 4168, 1996, 4nl, 1030 hrs, 8 backhoes, Bob cat, Trencher, Chipper. (302)998-9563. Cat 60 pull pan, hydraulic, operated. 717-288-6219 after 9pm Cat V5O Pneumatic tire forklift, 2-stage mast, 50001 b cap., LP, hydro, PS, full cab, dual dnve, $3BOO. 717/949-3582. DISMANTLING FOR PARTS: Case 6808 w/cab, extend-ahoe and Wain Roy quick coupler system w/24" bucket. All parts available. BALANDA EQUIPMENT P.O. Box 407 Rt 29 Palm, PA 18070 1-800-322-8030 Furukawa FXO4O Trackhoe, Rubber tracks, blade, side shift boom, cab, 2300 hrs, nice $14,500 1988 Case 585 forklift, good rubber, new paint $17,500 1993 Cat 312 Trackhoe, 3800 Mrs., Dynapac 42 w/66" Drums, Less Than Nice & Clean $49,500 100 Mrs. On New Cat 3208 Dsl. JO 450 C Crawler Loader, New Paint, Nice Clean Machine ........$14,500 , New Paint, Good 529,500 1988 Lu Rubber. 1990 Lull 522-4 JD diesel 4x4, 22 ft, new rubber, new paint 1987 Cat 416 TLB, full" cab, heat 1995 Gehl 4625 SX Skid Loader, low hours, new rubber $12,900 1965 Cat 9668, 23.5x25 Rubber, Good Condition $21,000 1993 Bobcat 7753, good rubber, nice $13,200 1984 Condor 42,4x4, manlift, new paint, good rubber $14,900 AA Equipment 717/529-2512 ▼ No Sunday Calls 1797 Robert Fulton Hwy., Quarryville, PA 17566 • We Buy & Sell • Financing Or Lease Purchase Available • 90 Down NO Payment For 90 Days Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 4, 1998-D9 j o,ecat Sclssors Four and one bucket for Lift, 10 working height, 2to 10 0 E Int. Track Loader, choose from, $9OO/each. Rebuilt head for a Int. TD6. 717/336-7375 No Sunday 717-776-7735 Cumberland Calls- Coun fI ord 550 backhoe loader, Gradall 471 Detroit, 3 ains great, ready to work, buckets, works great, old 55:.^5Pi-^ ven,n9S ' but ve| Y flood, price re (301)261-9043. duced to $9,000 negotible. Forklift Wholesalers 2000 (814)674-8756 I Lb c , U, !f c V f‘ Tngersol Rand 100CFM able. 70 In Stock, Sale- compressor, Deutr diesel. Rental-Finance w/ $lBOO 717/336.737S No Warranty. Chalk Equip- o undav Cal i s meat (410)686-6800. Sunday calls. Condor 48 ft manlift, 4x4, good rubber, new paint, rotating basket 514,500 PSsT 85 Kawasaki wheel loader, new rubber, new paint $22,500 1987 Ford 655 A w/Exl. Hoe, Good Rubber 514,500 1984 Lull 844 JD diesel, new paint, good rubber, mast stabilizers $28,000 .ZEHHL $24,000 $17,500 ♦ ♦