30/10/2026
We are gradually entering another hot period of the year in Nigeria, and for poultry farmers, this is something we need to take seriously.
Around this time, some farmers begin to complain about their birds panting excessively, eating less, growing slowly or even dying suddenly.
Imagine raising your birds for four or five weeks, spending money on feed, medication and other expenses, only to wake up one afternoon and discover that several birds have died because of excessive heat.
It can be very painful, especially when you realise that some of those losses could have been prevented with proper management.
I want to share a few practical things farmers can do to reduce heat stress. Some require equipment, while others are simple management practices that almost every farmer can adopt.
The good thing is that you don't have to own a big farm or spend hundreds of thousands of naira before you can start protecting your birds.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR BIRDS HAVE ACCESS TO COOL, CLEAN WATER
This is where I want us to start.
During hot weather, birds naturally drink more water because it helps them cope with the heat.
But there is something I have noticed. Some farmers provide water in the morning and leave it there throughout the day, even when the water has become warm.
If the weather is extremely hot, try to change the water more frequently. You can even add some ice or use frozen water bottles to cool the drinking water.
Also, check that your drinkers are working properly and that there are enough drinking points for the number of birds you have.
A bird suffering from heat stress needs easy access to water.
You don't want your birds struggling to drink when they are already uncomfortable.
2. PAY ATTENTION TO VENTILATION
Sometimes, the temperature outside your poultry pen may be high, but the situation inside the pen is even worse.
This happens when hot air is trapped inside and there is poor air movement.
Make sure your poultry house allows fresh air to enter and hot air to escape.
If you are using curtains or tarpaulins, adjust them appropriately during hot periods. Don't leave your birds inside a poorly ventilated pen.
Where you can afford it, fans can help improve air movement.
Overcrowding is another thing you should avoid. When too many birds are kept in a small space, they generate more heat, and the situation becomes worse.
3. ADJUST YOUR FEEDING TIME
Another thing farmers should understand is that the process of digesting feed produces heat in the body.
During extremely hot weather, it is better to encourage your birds to eat more during the cooler hours of the day.
Early morning and evening feeding can be helpful.
You should still ensure that your birds consume enough feed for proper growth. The idea is not to starve them but to manage feeding in a way that reduces additional heat stress.
4. INSTALL FOGGERS IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM
Now, let me talk about something that can make a significant difference, especially for farmers who are experiencing serious heat problems.
A fogger works by releasing very fine droplets of water into the air. As the droplets evaporate, they absorb heat from the surrounding air, helping to reduce the temperature inside the poultry house.
There are different types of foggers.
For example, we have the four-way fogger, which requires a suitable pumping machine to operate.
We also have electric foggers that come with their own pumping mechanism, so you don't need to buy a separate pumping machine.
But before investing in any of these systems, you need to consider your power supply.
Whether you are using electricity, a generator or solar power, you must have a reliable source of energy to operate the equipment.
Another important thing is ventilation.
Foggers are most effective when the air is not already too humid and there is enough ventilation. If you keep releasing mist into a poorly ventilated pen, you may end up increasing humidity instead of helping your birds.
So, the goal is not just to release water into the air. The goal is to achieve effective cooling without making the litter wet or creating another problem.
5. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD A FOGGER, CONSIDER A KNAPSACK SPRAYER
This is one area I really want small-scale farmers to pay attention to.
Not everyone has the money to buy a fogging system, and I understand that.
But your inability to afford expensive equipment should not stop you from taking reasonable steps to protect your birds.
A knapsack sprayer can be useful, provided you know how to use it correctly.
During hot weather, particularly when the air is relatively dry, you can use a clean knapsack sprayer with a fine-mist nozzle to introduce a light mist into a well-ventilated poultry house.
In suitable conditions, lightly misting older birds can also help them lose some heat as the water evaporates.
But please, don't mistake cooling for bathing your birds.
You are not supposed to soak them or make the litter wet.
And make sure the sprayer has never been used for pesticides or other harmful chemicals. It should be dedicated to clean water.
If the weather is already very humid, spraying more water may not help. It can even make heat stress worse.
The important thing is knowing when and how to use it.
6. YOU CAN ALSO USE A SPRAY GUN
Another option is a spray gun connected to a suitable water supply.
With the right nozzle, you can produce a fine mist that helps cool the environment through evaporation.
This may be useful for farmers who already have a water pumping system but cannot afford to install a complete fogging system.
Just like the knapsack sprayer, you need to be careful.
Don't direct powerful jets of water at your birds, and don't keep spraying until the floor becomes wet.
What you want is a cooling effect, not a flooded poultry pen.
7. AVOID STRESSING YOUR BIRDS DURING THE HOTTEST HOURS
There are certain things we do on our farms without realising that they contribute to heat stress.
For instance, catching birds for sale, weighing them, moving them from one pen to another or chasing them around during a very hot afternoon.
These activities make the birds more active and increase the heat their bodies produce.
If possible, carry out such activities early in the morning or later in the evening when the weather is cooler.
You may also consider using appropriate poultry electrolytes during hot periods, based on veterinary advice and the manufacturer's instructions.
But remember, electrolytes cannot replace clean water, good ventilation or proper cooling.
LET ME SAY THIS TO FARMERS
One thing I have always believed is that you don't necessarily need to have all the money in the world before you can practise good poultry management.
We are all operating at different levels.
Some farmers can afford automatic cooling systems, while others are still struggling to provide basic farm equipment.
If you have the money to install foggers, please consider doing so, especially if heat stress has been a recurring challenge on your farm.
If you can afford fans and other cooling systems, that's also good.
If what you can afford for now is a knapsack sprayer or a suitable spray gun, learn how to use it properly.
And if you cannot afford any of these things yet, start with the basics.
Provide cool drinking water. Improve ventilation. Reduce overcrowding. Provide adequate shade.
Adjust your feeding routine where necessary.
Something else I strongly recommend is getting a thermometer and humidity meter for your poultry pen.
Sometimes, we assume that because we are comfortable standing somewhere, our birds must also be comfortable.
That is not always true.
Birds don't regulate their body temperature the same way humans do, and by the time you notice serious signs of heat stress, the situation may already be dangerous.
Watch your birds closely.
If you notice excessive panting, wings held away from the body, reduced feed intake or unusual weakness, don't ignore those signs.
Take immediate steps to improve their environment. If birds are collapsing or dying, seek veterinary help urgently because other conditions may also be involved.
FINALLY, DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU START COUNTING DEAD BIRDS
I have seen how much farmers invest in raising their birds, and I know how painful it can be to lose them close to market age.
Imagine spending five weeks raising 500 broilers, only to lose 30 or 50 birds in one afternoon.
Apart from the money you spent buying those chicks, think about the feed they have consumed, the medication, your labour and the profit you were expecting to make.
All of that can disappear within a few hours.
That is why I keep encouraging farmers to pay attention to preventive management rather than waiting for problems before looking for solutions.
You cannot control how hot the weather becomes, but you can take steps to make your poultry pen safer and more comfortable for your birds.
And remember, there is no single cooling method that works perfectly under every condition. Your choice should depend on the age of your birds, the temperature, humidity, ventilation and the resources available to you.
Whatever your financial capacity, there is something you can do.
Don't wait until heat stress starts taking your birds before you begin to act.
