Hi Hive,
In farming, there are some days that test farmers heart and today was one of them.
Today, I lost one of my friend’s broiler chickens due to it heats tress—not because I didn’t know what to do, but because I simply wasn’t there at the right time and that really hurts the most.
The weather has been extremely hot since the middle of the march. If you're familiar with raising broilers, then you will understand and already know how dangerous this can be. Heat stress is fast, silent and deadly. Broiler chickens grow quickly, and their bodies can’t handle too much heat since they don't have sweating gland and once it gets too much, everything can go wrong in a very short time.
I wasn't around when this happens. Me and my wife went to sort out important task which took most of my day. I have been thinking all sort of thing and hope nothing happened to them when I was away. When I got to the bird's cage, something didn't feel right. One bird was lying down, completely still.
I tried to convince myself at first may be it was just resting… but deep down, I already knew because the positioning is not right. As I moved closer to the cage, my fear became reality. The bird is already gone.💔
What made it even more painful is that just two days ago, I saved another broiler chicken from the same situation.
That day, I noticed the signs early, panting (open mouth), heavy breathing, wings spread out and head down. I didn’t waste time as I quickly brought cold water and gently poured it on the bird to reduce its body temperature. I moved it to a cooler spot with better airflow and slowly, it came back to life like a miracle.
That moment gave me so much joy and it reminded me why taking quick action is everything in poultry farming.
But today, I didn’t get that chance. I keep thinking what if I was around earlier?
Maybe this story would have been entirely different.
And this experience has reminded me of something very important:
👉 That Broiler chickens need constant attention, especially during hot weather especially with this present weather here in Nigeria.
Heat stress doesn’t give warnings twice.
As farmers, you must:
✔ Provide clean, cool water at all times
✔ Ensure proper ventilation
✔ Reduce overcrowding
✔ Act immediately when you notice signs of stress
Even something as simple as using cold water can save a life, but only if you are there and act on time.
Today, I learned the hard way.
Farming is not just about feeding and growing animals but it’s about responsibility, timing, and care. Some days we celebrate wins (profit) and some days we learn painful lessons (loss).
But today, I’m choosing to learn.
Henceforth, I’ll be more alert, especially during the hottest hours of the day. I’ll reschedule my time especially during this hot weather and check on the birds more often and improve their environment as much as I can.Because one thing is clear..I don’t want to be late again.
Though this is not my first time of experiencing such but it can be painful seeing your birds lying down still as a farmer.
💬 Have you ever lost a bird to heat stress?
What methods do you use to protect your chickens during hot weather?
Let’s share and learn together 👇
Thanks for stopping by on my blog and have a wonderful day