Loyonder Poultry

HOW TO READ YOUR HTC DIGITAL THERMOMETER THIS RAINY SEASON

It is rainy season, and many poultry farmers do not really understand the condition their birds are living in.

We pay attention to feed, water and medication, but sometimes forget that temperature and humidity can seriously affect the health and growth of birds.

The poultry house may feel comfortable to you, but your birds may be feeling too hot, too cold or uncomfortable because of excess moisture.

That is why an HTC digital thermometer and hygrometer is important.

Let us use these readings as an example:

IN: 30.1°C
OUT: 29.1°C
RH: 51%

Are these readings good or bad?

It depends on the age of the birds, their behaviour and where you placed the thermometer.

1. What does “IN” mean?

The IN reading shows the temperature around the main thermometer.

Place the thermometer at the level of the birds. Do not place it close to the roof, directly under the brooder, beside a hot wall or where sunlight can touch it.

For newly arrived chicks, a temperature of around 30–32°C may be comfortable, depending on the brooding method.

So, 30.1°C may be suitable for day-old chicks, especially when they are evenly spread and active.

However, the same 30.1°C may be too hot for older broilers, pullets or layers because birds need less heat as they grow.

When chicks are too cold:

They may gather closely around the heat source, make loud sounds, eat less and struggle to grow well.

Instead of using their feed to gain weight, they will use the energy to keep themselves warm.

When chicks are too hot:

They may move far away from the heat source, spread their wings, pant, drink plenty of water and eat less.

When the temperature is correct:

The chicks will spread evenly around the brooding area, eat and drink normally, and make calm sounds.

So, do not look at the number alone. Also look at the behaviour of the birds.

2. What does “OUT” mean?

The OUT reading comes from the small wired probe attached to the thermometer.

“OUT” does not always mean outside the poultry house. It simply means the probe is measuring the temperature of another area.

You can place the main thermometer in one part of the brooding area and put the probe:

- Close to the litter at chick level
- Near the brooder
- At the far end of the pen
- Outside the poultry house

This helps you compare the temperature in two different places.

For example, the main unit may show 31°C, while the probe close to the floor shows 25°C.

This means the air above may be warm, but the floor where the chicks are staying is still cold.

This happens often during the rainy season because the floor and litter can remain cold even when the brooder is producing enough heat.

Also, the area close to the brooder may be 32°C, while another part of the pen is 24°C.

This means heat is not spreading evenly. Some chicks may be comfortable, while others are suffering from cold.

The difference between the IN and OUT readings helps you know whether every part of the poultry house is comfortable.

3. What does “RH” mean?

RH means Relative Humidity.

It shows the amount of moisture in the air.

Humidity is very important during the rainy season because the air is already carrying plenty of moisture.

An RH reading of 51% means the moisture level is moderate.

For newly arrived chicks, humidity of around 60–70% may be helpful. After the brooding period, around 50–60% is generally suitable.

When humidity stays above 70%, you should pay serious attention.

What happens when humidity is too high?

During the rainy season, moisture enters the poultry house in different ways.

Rain may enter through the sides or roof. Water may spill from drinkers. Birds also release moisture through breathing and droppings.

All these can increase humidity to 75%, 80%, 90% or more.

High humidity can make the birds feel hotter than the temperature showing on the thermometer.

For example, 29°C with 50% humidity may be manageable, but 29°C with 85% humidity can be very uncomfortable, especially for heavy broilers.

High humidity can also cause:

- Wet and caked litter
- Strong ammonia smell
- Dirty feathers
- Footpad wounds
- More germs in the poultry house
- Higher risk of coccidiosis
- Poor growth and increased mortality

This is why you should not close the poultry house completely because rain is falling.

Protect the birds from direct rain and cold wind, but still allow proper ventilation.

Fresh air helps to remove excess moisture, heat, ammonia and bad air from the poultry house.

What happens when humidity is too low?

Very low humidity is not common during the rainy season, but it can happen when you use too much heat or allow excessive ventilation.

When RH falls below about 40–50%, the air may become too dry.

This can make chicks lose body moisture quickly. It can also increase dust and dry their breathing passages.

So, do not focus only on temperature.

Temperature and humidity work together.

A temperature may look normal, but the birds may still feel too hot when humidity is high or too cold when humidity is very low.

4. Why is the clock important?

The clock helps you know the exact time a reading was taken.

The condition inside the poultry house can change quickly during the rainy season.

The temperature may be normal in the afternoon but drop after heavy rainfall at night.

Humidity may also increase overnight when the curtains are closed and there is little ventilation.

Instead of saying:

“My chicks were cold yesterday,”

you can record:

10:00 p.m. — Temperature: 27°C, RH: 82%.

This makes it easier to understand what happened and take the right action.

5. What is the MEMORY function?

The memory function shows the highest and lowest temperature and humidity recorded by the thermometer.

This is useful because you may not always be inside the poultry house.

You may enter the pen in the morning and see 28°C, but the temperature may have dropped to 23°C during the night.

Without checking the minimum reading, you may never know.

That sudden drop may explain why the chicks are gathering together, becoming weak or growing slowly.

Do not depend on the thermometer alone

The thermometer gives you important information, but the birds will also tell you whether they are comfortable.

Always watch their behaviour.

When they are evenly spread, active, eating and drinking normally, the environment is likely comfortable.

When they gather together, they may be cold.

When they pant, spread their wings or move away from the heat source, they may be too hot.

When the litter is wet and the ammonia smell is increasing, humidity is high and ventilation needs attention.

Good poultry farmers do not guess the condition of their birds.

They measure it, observe the birds, record the readings and make corrections early.

This rainy season, do not wait until your birds become sick before checking their environment.

A simple HTC digital thermometer can help you notice temperature and humidity problems before they cause poor growth, wet litter, disease or mortality.

HTC digital thermometers are available for sale at Loyonder Poultry.

Call/WhatsApp: 07069074379
https://wa.me/2347069074379

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