Published by the National Poultry Technology Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
During colder weather, poultry growers should turn their attention to issues that can increase heating costs and hurt bird performance by allowing cold air infiltration and heat leakage. Published in 2014, this newsletter from the National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC) at Auburn University addresses metal sidewall issues that can cause problems such as this. The newsletter includes a PALRUF/AG-TUF solution that NPTC began long-term tests on in 2011 that proved to be effective in field trials.
Poultry house sidewalls have been undergoing a transformation from large drop-down curtains to solid, fully sealed and insulated walls. This has dramatically improved environmental control and reduced heating costs. However, severe air leakage caused by corrosion of exterior metal along the lower sidewall at ground level makes it much more challenging to keep birds comfortable at a reasonable fuel cost. Further, holes provide entry points for rodents and other pests.
