Ventilation Systems are More Complex
We cannot ventilate houses the way we did years ago because of the growth of the bird. Modern ventilations systems have numerous components to provide the optimal environment for the bird. They monitor the levels of NH3, CO, CO2, and dust inside the house. They control the temperature as well as relative humidity (RH), which keep the birds comfortable and the litter dry.
To create the best environment for birds, it’s crucial to first understand basic principles of ventilation.
1. Static Pressure (SP). For every .01 of SP air is thrown ~61cm (2ft)
2. Relative Humidity (RH). For every 11.1ºC (20ºF) the temperature increases, RH decreases by 20 percent.
These principles inform the three “must-have’s” of minimum ventilation:
1. Must have correct SP for your building
2. Must have correct air inlet door opening
3. Must then determine proper run time to control humidity in house
Getting any one of these components wrong could lead to unsuccessful ventilation. Always use the company-provided ventilation rate charts of your particular system, but consider factors such as outside temperature and RH to adjust as needed.
Stir fans are also a key piece in maintaining an even temperature throughout the house, and break up stratification of hot and cooler air. This also keeps litter dry by controlling the moisture level throughout the house.