Heat wave has no effect on poultry

Kakinada: The poultry activity in East Godavari is going on in its normal way despite the prevailing hot weather conditions. According to sources, the activity spread over to Antiparty, Biccavolu, Ramgampeta, Peddapuram, Mandapeta, Ravulapalem, Jaggampeta, Alamuru, Ramachandrapuram and surrounding areas.

In total, 90 poultry farms in these areas have 1.25 crore bird strength which lay eggs 80 to 90 percent in normal days. During summer, the egg production comes down to seventy to eighty percent despite the effective heat management practices by the poultry farm owners. In addition to the birds of egg-laying age of 18 weeks and above, there are 40 lakh chicks of eight to 10 week age.

The normal age for egg-laying is 18 weeks. The poultry farm managements opt for effective heat management by using sprinkler mode of water spray from rooftop. Majority of these farmers use groundwater for their needs. The water spray in this mode brings down the poultry shed area temperatures by 5 to 7 degrees.

In East Godavari, the bird of one kilo is being sold at Rs 105 and the dressed chicken at Rs 180 per kilo. The price of egg at poultry farms is Rs 2.90 paise whereas in open market the price per egg is Rs 4 to Rs 4.50 paise. According to Padala Subbi Reddy, representative of East Godavari poultry farmers, they keep power generators at their disposal to use them whenever the need arises for uninterrupted power supply for sprinkling of water by using pump sets.