Nghe An: Farmers install electric and gas heating systems to protect poultry from the cold

After selling a batch of broiler chickens to serve the Tet market, Mr. Nguyen Van Dong's family in Hamlet 2, Dien Trung Commune (Dien Chau) is focusing on restocking the flock. This new batch of chickens, Mr. Dong's family raised more than 20,000 in 5 farms. At this time, when the weather was extremely cold, Mr. Dong's family had to stretch tarpaulins around the farm, and at the same time burn coal and install a gas heating system tochicken warmer.

Mr. Dong said: In addition to building a barn system that ensures coolness in the summer, warmth in the winter, and avoids direct wind, when it is cold, it is necessary to ensure a suitable temperature for the chickens throughout the raising process, especially for newly released chicks. Currently, in addition to spreading rice husks as a layer to keep the floor warm, Mr. Dong has invested in each barn with 5-7 coal stoves along with a gas heater. At night or early in the morning when the temperature drops, he will light the stove to warm the chickens.

Faced with prolonged cold weather, many livestock farmers have had to burn coal to keep their chickens warm. Photo: Tien Dong

"Although the investment cost will increase when installing a heating system, in return the poultry will have more stable health," Mr. Dong shared.

In Dien Trung commune, there are currently 142 households raising livestock, each household raising an average of 5,000 chickens, raising about 3 batches each year, reaching 340,000 chickens. Mr. Tran Van Dung - Chairman of Dien Trung Commune People's Committee said: As a locality withpoultryThe largest in the district, so from the beginning of the year, the commune has assigned agricultural officers to closely monitor, propagate, and remind livestock households to ensure disease prevention and cold protection for livestock.

In addition to being warmed by coal, the chickens are also warmed by infrared bulbs. Photo: Tien Dong

After a successful year of poultry farming, poultry farmers in Dien Chau district are currently focusing on cleaning up their barns and restocking their flocks. According to the plan, by 2022, the entire district will have more than 1.4 million poultry.

Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dien Chau district said: At this time, the weather is unfavorable, but with many years of experience, most livestock households have done a good job of preventing and fighting diseases and cold for poultry flocks. The district also recommends that before releasing new batches, people need to repair their barns, especially for barns that were affected by the flu epidemic last year, they need to focus more on disease screening and cleaning the livestock area.

Heating after release will help the chickens withstand harsh weather. Photo: Tien Dong

In addition to Dien Chau district, most poultry farming households in Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Quynh Luu districts... are also very concerned about cold prevention and control.

Mr. Pham Hong Vinh in Hamlet 9, Nghi Truong Commune (Nghi Loc), after the Tet chicken batch, continued to release more than 5,000 chickens. Because the release happened right at the time of severe cold, Mr. Vinh had toReinforce the barn, cover it with tarpaulin, and when the temperature drops too low, burn charcoal to warm the chickens. According to Mr. Vinh, only newly released chickens need special care and warming. After about a month, when the chickens are strong, the charcoal stove can be cut down to help the chickens adapt to the natural environment.

Although installing heating equipment will be costly, in return the poultry will be less susceptible to disease, resulting in higher economic efficiency. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of Nghe An Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said: At this time, the weather is not favorable, there is often severe cold, to ensure the health of poultry, especially after releasing new batches, people need to regularly monitor the weather as well as the health of poultry to be able to adjust the diet and care appropriately.

In particular, Mr. Quynh also recommended that households using coal and gas to heat chickens need to pay attention to ventilation, avoid too high temperatures, causing heat shock and gas poisoning for poultry.

In addition, localities also need to strengthen propaganda work, assign responsible staff, monitor and proactively deal with complex weather conditions. Ensure barn hygiene before repopulating, avoid mass repopulation without careful preparation, which will cause significant damage when disease and severe cold persist.