The effect of environmental conditions on body temperature of fowls

Abstract

The highest increase in body temperature was associated with an increase in relative humidity when air temperature was high, while low air temperature was the main factor in reducing body temperature. When relative humidity was low and air temperature attained its maximum, the increase in body temperature was not correspondingly high. The increase in body temperature during late summer reduced egg production, while the decrease in body temperature to its lowest values was associated with the maximum egg production during late winter and early spring. Also, during the late autumn months when body temperature decreased, egg production also began to increase. The highest body temperatures were observed at noon, while the lowest were during the evening. A relatively high body temperature was observed in the morning. This trend of variation in body temperature was associated with similar variations in air temperatures at the same periods. The wide diurnal variations in body temperature were found when there were also wide variations in air temperature. Breed differences were observed in body temperature. The higher body temperature of the Fayomi and the Fayomi male X Rhode Island Red females cross as compared with the Rhode Island Red, may be associated with the greater activity of the native birds and their smaller body size.