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Effect of Some Factors on the Body Temperature of Hens
Effect of Some Factors on the Body Temperature of Hens B U R T W.
HEYWANG
Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, Glendale, Arizona (Received for publication December 14, 1937)
ROND A (1925) presented data show- having a floor space of about 4 square feet, ing the diurnal variation at two-hour The body temperature of each hen was intervals in the body temperature of sev- taken twice daily on 149 days during the eral breeds of chickens, and stated that period December 24, 1934, through August the temperature of the room had no ap- 7,1935. One daily temperature reading was parent effect on the body temperature made between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and the curve. However, he did not state the room other between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Data were temperatures. In connection with data on also obtained in October, 1935, on daily the effect of air temperature on egg size, fluctuations in body temperature by taking Bennion and, Warren (1933) reported that readings at two-hour intervals during three the average body temperature of several different periods of 48 hours each. Leghorn females was more than 2°F. higher Body temperatures were taken by insertunder "high" air temperature than under ing a clinical thermometer in the rectum "moderate" air temperature, but they ap- to the depth of 1 inch and holding it there parently made relatively few observations. 1 minute. A small quantity of vaseline was It was considered of at least academic placed on the inserted portion of the therinterest to determine whether air tempera- mometer to prevent irritation of the rectum ture had any effect on the body temperature and adjacent areas. Air temperatures were of hens, and, since individual hen batteries recorded with another type of thermomwere being used to some extent, to deter- eter. mine also the effect of close confinement It might seem that the body temperatures on the body temperature. Accordingly, data of hens in a pen would be increased because were obtained at the Southwest Poultry of excitemment attendant to their being Experiment Station, Glendale, Arizona, caught. That was not the case, for within which has high summer air temperatures. a few days they became accustomed to being caught and would enter, without apEXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE parent excitement, the catching device White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red placed in a corner of the pen. hens were confined in separate pens in a The hens were fed ad libitum an alllong poultry house, each hen having about mash diet of the following composition: 45 square feet of floor space. Other LegPercent horn hens were confined in individual cages Ground yellow com SO of the type commonly known as hen bat- ^hea" middlings'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^ teries, each having a floor space of about Wheat bran 10 1 %. square feet. Other Rhode Island Red F i ^ ^^ \\\\'\\\\\' \\\.".'.'...'". "". s hens were confined in cages similar to those Dried buttermilk 5 used for exhibiting poultry at shows, each Bonemeal .....'/................... l 1317]
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318
W. HEYWANG
BURT
Salt Cod liver oil Oyster shell was given ad libitum
l 2
EFFECTS OF AIR TEMPERATURE AND CLOSE CONFINEMENT
In Table 1 are shown the average body temperatures of three Leghorn hens in TABLE 1.—Effect
116 eggs during the experimental period, and of three hens of the same breed confined to a pen with production records of 113, 117, and 140 eggs during the same period. A total of 282 temperatures were taken of each hen. The average body temperatures, taken
of air temperature and close confinement on body temperature of hens Morning temperatures Range in body temperature of
Cage Leg's
Pen Leg's
Cage Reds
Cage Leg's
Pen Leg's
Cage Reds
"F. 4 1 - 45 4 6 - 50 5 1 - 55 56- 60 6 1 - 65 6 6 - 70 7 1 - 75 76- 80 8 1 - 85 86- 90 9 1 - 95
°F. 106.14 106.21 106.17 106.08 106.18 106.06 105.92 105.64 105.53 105.68 105.54
°F. 106.28 106.44 106.48 106.35 106.59 106.48 106.47 106.47 106.19 106.20 106.33
"F. 105.78 105.98 105.77 105.88 106.02 105.96 105.81 105.38 105.16 105.30 105.25
°F. 105.0-107.1 105.2-107.2 105.2-107.0 105.4-107.0 105.5-106.8 105.0-107.2 105.1-107.6 104.6-106.6 104.8-107.2 104.8-107.0 104.8-106.0
"F. 104.5-107.2 105.0-107.2 104.2-107.4 105.1-107.0 106.0-107.4 105.8-107.1 106.0-107.6 105.8-107.0 105.4-107.4 105.4-107.5 105.4-107.2
"F. 103.8-108.4 104.6-107.0 104.2-107.0 105.0-106.8 105.0-107.0 105.4-106.6 105.4-106.4 104.6-106.2 104.4-105.8 104.6-106.6 104.2-106.2
5 1 - 55 56- 60 6 1 - 65 6 6 - 70 7 1 - 75 76- 80 8 1 - 85 86- 90 ^6-100 101-105 106-111
106.55 106.57 • 106.57 106.38 106.61 106.65 106.68 107.22 107.43 107.95 108.35
Afte moon tempera tures 106.84 106.23 105.8-107.3 106.72 106.33 105.6-107.3 106.71 106.36 105.5-107.8 106.91 106.46 105.8-107.1 106.94 106.40 105.8-107.4 106.81 106.40 106.0-107.7 106.74 106.37 105.8-108.1 107.27 107.00 106.0-108.6 107.38 107.48 105.8-108.2 107.28 107.29 106.6-110.0 107.73 107.88 106.2-110.0
105.8-107.4 105.6-107.9 105.4-107.6 106.1-108.0 106.0-107.5 106.0-108.9 105.8-107.2 106.3-108.4 105.8-108.6 106.2-109.2 106.2-109.4
105.4-107.2 104.6-108.8 105.3-108.8 105.7-108.6 105.4-107.4 105.2-108.2 105.6-107.6 106.0-108.6 106.0-108.2 105.2-109.0 105.6-110.4
1
No temperatures taken at 91-95° of air temperature.
cages, three Leghorn hens in the pen, and three Rhode Island Red hens in cages, whose body temperatures were taken throughout the entire period. Each average represents 12 or more body temperatures. It seems preferable to use the data from either laying or non-laying hens of the same breed in a comparison of the body temperatures of hens closely confined with those that are not. The body temperatures in Table 1 are of three caged Leghorn hens with production records of 106, 108, and
in the morning, of the Leghorns in the pen were higher than those of the Leghorns in cages throughout all ranges in air temperatures. The difference became greater as the air temperature increased owing to the fact that as the air temperature rose above 70°F., the temperatures of the Leghorns in cages decreased whereas those of the Leghorns in the pen did not change much. The average body temperature, taken in the afternoon of the birds in cages, as well as those in the pen, tended to increase as
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Average body temperature of Air temperature
319
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS TABLE 2.—Average body temperatures at different average air temperatures
Average a^r temperature
Average body temperature of Leghorns in pen
Leghorns in cage Morning temperature "F.
54 72 84 92 99
106.33 106.12 105.82 105.60 105.63
106.44 106.68 107.27 108.31 108.63
Average
Difference
Morning temperature
Afternoon temperature
Average
Difference
"F.
"F.
"F.
"F.
°F.
°F.
106.38 106.40 106.54 106.95 107.13
0.11 0.56 1.45 2.71 3.00
106.48 106.52 106.35 106.21 106.23
106.86 106.80 107.26 107.41 107.62
106.67 106.66 106.80 106.81 106.92
0.38 0.28 0.91 1.20 1.39
the average air temperature rose. In other words, as indicated in Table 2, the difference between average morning and afternoon temperatures became greater as the average air temperature increased, and the difference was much greater for the Leghorns in cages than for the Leghorns in the pen. Each average air temperature in Table 2 is the average of the two daily readings on 10 different days. The average body temperatures of the three Leghorns in cages during the entire experimental period were 106.50, 106.51, and 106.66°F., while those of the pen Leghorns were 106.53, 106.71, and 106.84°F. As indicated later in Table 4, the average of body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 5 TABLE 3.-—Effect
p.m., as they were in this trial, should be about 0.5°F. higher than the average of body temperatures taken at two-hour intervals. Thus, if an average body temperature were given for Leghorn hens these data indicate that it would be between 106 and 107°F. for both the closely confined (caged) and not closely confined (pen). However, since it is shown in Tables 1 and 3 that individual body temperatures may range between 103.2 and 110.4°F., it seems inadvisable to list any given temperature as "average" or "normal." These data also indicate that close confinement does not affect greatly the extremes between which single readings of the body temperature of a healthy Leghorn hen may fluctuate. The lowest body tem-
of egg production on body temperature Average body temperature
Eggs Laid Pen Leghorns No. 276 315 331 317 Pen Rhode Island Red No. 868 1257 1841
No.
Morning
Afternoon
Average
Range
°F.
"F.
"F.
"F.
113 117 140 23
106.42 106.17 106.51 106.19
107.02 106.92 107.20 106.88
106.71 106.53 106.84 106.52
105.1-108.8 104.2-108.8 105.0-109.4 103.2-109.0
0 0 79
106.13 106.04 106.64
106.78 106.26 107.23
106.44 106.15 106.97
105.0-107.7 104.0-107.8 105.4-110.0
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"F.
Afternoon temperature
320
BUET W. HEYWANG
perature recorded among the three Leghorn hens in cages was 104.8°F. and the highest was 110.0°F., while the lowest body temperature recorded among the three Leghorns in the pen was 104.2 °F. and the
than Leghorns confined to a relatively large area when the average air temperature was above 100°F. The data listed in Table 1 show that the temperature of the Rhode Island Reds in
TABLE 4.—Diurnal variation of the body temperature of hens (°F) First Day Time of Day
Second Day
Av. Body Temp.
72 83 91 98 97 86 74 69 68 62 60 58
106.42 106.66 107.00 107.59 107.51 106.97 105.85 105.77 105.84 105.95 105.91 106.29
—
—
Both Days
Av. Body Temp.
Range of Body Temp.
72 82 89 98 96 83 72 67 64 62 60 56 70
106.41 106.42 106.69 107.18 107.55 106.91 106.00 105.83 105.74 105.87 105.90 106.44 106.71
105.5-108.4 105.1-108.0 105.9-108.3 106.0-109.4 106.6-109.6 106.2-108.4 104.8-107.8 104.3-107.8 104.4-107.0 104.6-107.2 103.6-107.6 104.6-108.0 105.6-108.8
—
Second Period 106.75 71 106.59 80 106.74 88 107.82 96 107.77 93 107.01 82 106.17 72 105.90 69 105.81 64 105.85 63 105.95 60 106.32 58 68 —
106.65 106.34 106.59 107.34 107.40 106.92 106.23 105.75 105.69 105.91 105.97 106.20 106.47
105.6-108.2 105.2-108.2 105.6-108.6 106.6-110.0 106.4-110.2 106.2-108.6 105.0-108.1 104.6-108.2 104.4-107.1 104.4-107.3 104.8-108.0 104.6-108.0 105.6-107.6
55 66 71 77 76 62 52 48 46 44 42 42
106.73 106.66 106.37 106.60 106.78 106.45 106.00 105.77 105.42 105.65 105.73 106.20
—
—
106.75 106.53 106.44 106.37 106.78 106.75 105.86 105.51 105.36 105.61 105.87 106.33 106.52
105.8-107.9 105.8-107.4 105.7-107.3 105.6-107.5 106.0-107.4 105.9-107.4 104.8-107.2 104.9-106.4 104.4-106.2 104.8-106.4 104.8-106.6 105.4-106.8 105.5-107.3
Room Temp.
First Period 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
66 81 88 97 94 81 73 68 66 62 59 58
Third Period 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
highest was 109.4°F. It should be noted, however, that the laying Leghorn hens closely confined had a higher average body temperature between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
53 68 74 79 76 64 56 50 48 46 44 42 54
cages fluctuated similarly to those of the Leghorns in cages in that their average a.m. body temperatures decreased when the a.m. air temperature rose above 70°F. The
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Room Temp.
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS
p.m. body temperatures of all nine fowls, whether closely or not closely confined, tended to increase noticeably after the p.m. air temperature rose above 86°F., but the increase was greater in the closely confined fowls. EFFECT OF EGG PRODUCTION
when the fowls were not laying was 106.17°F. The average of 184 body temperatures taken between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. when the p.m. room temperature range was 91 to 111°F. and the fowls were laying was 107.68°F.; the average of 116 body temperatures taken between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the same air temperature range when the fowls were not laying was 107.86°F. Apparently a "good," or "fair," layer has about the same average body temperature during periods when she is laying and when she is not. Since none of the fowls were molting, these data do not indicate the body temperature of a fowl during a molt. THE BODY TEMPERATURE CURVE OF HENS
'
Starting October 3, 10, and 24, 1935, body temperatures were taken at two-hour intervals of two Rhode Island Red hens confined to cages, three Rhode Island Red hens confined to a pen, two White Leghorn hens confined to cages, and four White Leghorn hens confined to a pen, all fowls being in the same building. Air temperatures were recorded when body temperatures were taken. The thermometers were similar to those previously mentioned, and the method of taking temperatures was similar. Since the room temperatures were lower during the third period of recording than during the second or first period, the results during the three periods are listed separately in Table 4. Body temperatures for all fowls are averaged by time periods in Table 4 because all showed the same general tendency to rise or fall according to time of day. The average room temperature during the first period was 75.6°F. and the average body temperature was 106.5°F.; during the second period they were respectively 74.3°F. and 106.5°F.; during the third period 57.4°F. and 106,2°F. In connection with the effect of
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Although the number of birds represented seems too small for definite conclusions, the data in Table 3 indicate that a "good" layer has a higher average body temperature than a "poor" or a non-layer. However, the degree of increase in body temperature in a layer compared to a non-layer seems to depend upon the individual. The "number of eggs laid" in Table 3 is the number laid during the period for which air and body temperatures are given. The body temperatures of the Rhode Island Reds and of the Leghorns in Table 3 cannot be compared since those of the Leghorns cover the entire experimental period, while those of the Rhode Island Reds include only 531 readings taken during the period January 23, 1935, and June 22, 1935. During the entire period of taking temperatures there were intervals during which the six Leghorns represented in Tables 1 and 2 were not laying. For example, one hen did not lay until several weeks after temperatures were first taken and did not lay during the last three weeks. As an indication of whether a hen has a different average body temperature during laying and non-laying periods, a comparison was made of average body temperatures during two different ranges of air temperatures. The average of 261 body temperatures, taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the a.m. room temperature range was 36 to 55°F. and the fowls were laying was 106.33°F.; the average of 185 body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 &.gi. during the same air temperature range
321
322
BUET W. HEYWANG
air temperature on body temperature it is interesting to note that the average body temperatures at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. during the first and second periods were noticeably higher than the average body temperatures at the same hours during the third period, and that the air temperatures at those hours during the first two periods were also higher than during the third period.
PER* TURE
100 90
e
70
<
/
80
60
/ / \
j
I
"f 108
5 : ]
107
j .
106
>}
FIG. 1. Diurnal body and air temperature at two hour intervals.
Temperatures during all three periods are averaged and presented in Figure 1 to show graphically the variations in body temperatures by two-hour periods during a total period of 48 hours. Body temperatures were lowest at midnight and highest at 4 p.m., there being a difference of approximately 1.5°F. Except for the period between midnight and 6 a.m. when body temperatures increased and air temperature decreased, the curves in Figure 1 show that body temperatures increased or decreased as air temperature increased or decreased. While both the average body temperature and the
SUMMARY Body temperatures at different air temperatures of three White Leghorn and three Rhode Island Red hens closely confined, and three White Leghorn hens not closely confined were taken during a period of about ly-i months. An appreciable increase in average body temperature taken between 3 p.m. and S p.m. accompanied an increase in air temperature when the latter was above 86°F. The increase in average body temperature was greater in closely confined Leghorn hens than in those that were not closely confined. On days of high air temperatures, the average of body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. decreased as the average of body temperatures taken between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. increased, and the difference was greater in closely confined hens. A comparison of the body temperatures of three Leghorn hens that laid reasonably well with those of one that was a poor layer, and a comparison of the body temperature of a Rhode Island Red that was a fair layer with those of two that did not lay indicated that a laying hen may have a slightly higher average body temperature than a
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DIURNAL BODY AND AIR TEMPERATURES AT TWO HOUR INTERVALS
average air temperature were highest at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., the lowest average air temperature was at 6 a.m. and the lowest average body temperature at midnight. The greatest change in body temperatures occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., when there was a drop of about 0.80° F. The body temperature curve agrees in general with that of Fronda (1925), who attributes the variations to activity of the fowl and to the influence of the digestive processes. His conclusions seem reasonable, but these data indicate that air temperature may influence body temperature, particularly between noon and 6 p.m. during periods of high air temperature.
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS
323
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poor or non-layer. A comparison of the were not lowest during the coolest part; body temperatures of six Leghorn hens dur- (3) the greatest change in body temperaing periods when they were and were not tures occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. laying indicated that a hen may have ap- when there was a decrease of about 0.80 °F. proximately the same average body temperaIndividual recordings of the body temture during laying and non-laying periods. perature of healthy, non-broody hens The average body temperatures of five ranged between 103.2°F. and 110.4°F. Rhode Island Red and six White Leghorn REFERENCES hens taken at two-hour intervals during three periods of 48 hours each showed: Fronda, F. M., 1925. Some observations on the body temperature of poultry. Cornell Vet. I S : (1) body temperatures were lowest at mid8-20. night and highest at 4 p.m.; (2) body tem- Bennion, N. L., and D. C. Warren, 1933. Temperaperatures were highest during the hottest ture and its effect on egg size in the domestic part of the day, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but fowl. Poul. Sci. 12 :69-82.
HEYWANG
Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, Glendale, Arizona (Received for publication December 14, 1937)
ROND A (1925) presented data show- having a floor space of about 4 square feet, ing the diurnal variation at two-hour The body temperature of each hen was intervals in the body temperature of sev- taken twice daily on 149 days during the eral breeds of chickens, and stated that period December 24, 1934, through August the temperature of the room had no ap- 7,1935. One daily temperature reading was parent effect on the body temperature made between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and the curve. However, he did not state the room other between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Data were temperatures. In connection with data on also obtained in October, 1935, on daily the effect of air temperature on egg size, fluctuations in body temperature by taking Bennion and, Warren (1933) reported that readings at two-hour intervals during three the average body temperature of several different periods of 48 hours each. Leghorn females was more than 2°F. higher Body temperatures were taken by insertunder "high" air temperature than under ing a clinical thermometer in the rectum "moderate" air temperature, but they ap- to the depth of 1 inch and holding it there parently made relatively few observations. 1 minute. A small quantity of vaseline was It was considered of at least academic placed on the inserted portion of the therinterest to determine whether air tempera- mometer to prevent irritation of the rectum ture had any effect on the body temperature and adjacent areas. Air temperatures were of hens, and, since individual hen batteries recorded with another type of thermomwere being used to some extent, to deter- eter. mine also the effect of close confinement It might seem that the body temperatures on the body temperature. Accordingly, data of hens in a pen would be increased because were obtained at the Southwest Poultry of excitemment attendant to their being Experiment Station, Glendale, Arizona, caught. That was not the case, for within which has high summer air temperatures. a few days they became accustomed to being caught and would enter, without apEXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE parent excitement, the catching device White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red placed in a corner of the pen. hens were confined in separate pens in a The hens were fed ad libitum an alllong poultry house, each hen having about mash diet of the following composition: 45 square feet of floor space. Other LegPercent horn hens were confined in individual cages Ground yellow com SO of the type commonly known as hen bat- ^hea" middlings'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^ teries, each having a floor space of about Wheat bran 10 1 %. square feet. Other Rhode Island Red F i ^ ^^ \\\\'\\\\\' \\\.".'.'...'". "". s hens were confined in cages similar to those Dried buttermilk 5 used for exhibiting poultry at shows, each Bonemeal .....'/................... l 1317]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 28, 2015
F
318
W. HEYWANG
BURT
Salt Cod liver oil Oyster shell was given ad libitum
l 2
EFFECTS OF AIR TEMPERATURE AND CLOSE CONFINEMENT
In Table 1 are shown the average body temperatures of three Leghorn hens in TABLE 1.—Effect
116 eggs during the experimental period, and of three hens of the same breed confined to a pen with production records of 113, 117, and 140 eggs during the same period. A total of 282 temperatures were taken of each hen. The average body temperatures, taken
of air temperature and close confinement on body temperature of hens Morning temperatures Range in body temperature of
Cage Leg's
Pen Leg's
Cage Reds
Cage Leg's
Pen Leg's
Cage Reds
"F. 4 1 - 45 4 6 - 50 5 1 - 55 56- 60 6 1 - 65 6 6 - 70 7 1 - 75 76- 80 8 1 - 85 86- 90 9 1 - 95
°F. 106.14 106.21 106.17 106.08 106.18 106.06 105.92 105.64 105.53 105.68 105.54
°F. 106.28 106.44 106.48 106.35 106.59 106.48 106.47 106.47 106.19 106.20 106.33
"F. 105.78 105.98 105.77 105.88 106.02 105.96 105.81 105.38 105.16 105.30 105.25
°F. 105.0-107.1 105.2-107.2 105.2-107.0 105.4-107.0 105.5-106.8 105.0-107.2 105.1-107.6 104.6-106.6 104.8-107.2 104.8-107.0 104.8-106.0
"F. 104.5-107.2 105.0-107.2 104.2-107.4 105.1-107.0 106.0-107.4 105.8-107.1 106.0-107.6 105.8-107.0 105.4-107.4 105.4-107.5 105.4-107.2
"F. 103.8-108.4 104.6-107.0 104.2-107.0 105.0-106.8 105.0-107.0 105.4-106.6 105.4-106.4 104.6-106.2 104.4-105.8 104.6-106.6 104.2-106.2
5 1 - 55 56- 60 6 1 - 65 6 6 - 70 7 1 - 75 76- 80 8 1 - 85 86- 90 ^6-100 101-105 106-111
106.55 106.57 • 106.57 106.38 106.61 106.65 106.68 107.22 107.43 107.95 108.35
Afte moon tempera tures 106.84 106.23 105.8-107.3 106.72 106.33 105.6-107.3 106.71 106.36 105.5-107.8 106.91 106.46 105.8-107.1 106.94 106.40 105.8-107.4 106.81 106.40 106.0-107.7 106.74 106.37 105.8-108.1 107.27 107.00 106.0-108.6 107.38 107.48 105.8-108.2 107.28 107.29 106.6-110.0 107.73 107.88 106.2-110.0
105.8-107.4 105.6-107.9 105.4-107.6 106.1-108.0 106.0-107.5 106.0-108.9 105.8-107.2 106.3-108.4 105.8-108.6 106.2-109.2 106.2-109.4
105.4-107.2 104.6-108.8 105.3-108.8 105.7-108.6 105.4-107.4 105.2-108.2 105.6-107.6 106.0-108.6 106.0-108.2 105.2-109.0 105.6-110.4
1
No temperatures taken at 91-95° of air temperature.
cages, three Leghorn hens in the pen, and three Rhode Island Red hens in cages, whose body temperatures were taken throughout the entire period. Each average represents 12 or more body temperatures. It seems preferable to use the data from either laying or non-laying hens of the same breed in a comparison of the body temperatures of hens closely confined with those that are not. The body temperatures in Table 1 are of three caged Leghorn hens with production records of 106, 108, and
in the morning, of the Leghorns in the pen were higher than those of the Leghorns in cages throughout all ranges in air temperatures. The difference became greater as the air temperature increased owing to the fact that as the air temperature rose above 70°F., the temperatures of the Leghorns in cages decreased whereas those of the Leghorns in the pen did not change much. The average body temperature, taken in the afternoon of the birds in cages, as well as those in the pen, tended to increase as
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 28, 2015
Average body temperature of Air temperature
319
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS TABLE 2.—Average body temperatures at different average air temperatures
Average a^r temperature
Average body temperature of Leghorns in pen
Leghorns in cage Morning temperature "F.
54 72 84 92 99
106.33 106.12 105.82 105.60 105.63
106.44 106.68 107.27 108.31 108.63
Average
Difference
Morning temperature
Afternoon temperature
Average
Difference
"F.
"F.
"F.
"F.
°F.
°F.
106.38 106.40 106.54 106.95 107.13
0.11 0.56 1.45 2.71 3.00
106.48 106.52 106.35 106.21 106.23
106.86 106.80 107.26 107.41 107.62
106.67 106.66 106.80 106.81 106.92
0.38 0.28 0.91 1.20 1.39
the average air temperature rose. In other words, as indicated in Table 2, the difference between average morning and afternoon temperatures became greater as the average air temperature increased, and the difference was much greater for the Leghorns in cages than for the Leghorns in the pen. Each average air temperature in Table 2 is the average of the two daily readings on 10 different days. The average body temperatures of the three Leghorns in cages during the entire experimental period were 106.50, 106.51, and 106.66°F., while those of the pen Leghorns were 106.53, 106.71, and 106.84°F. As indicated later in Table 4, the average of body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 5 TABLE 3.-—Effect
p.m., as they were in this trial, should be about 0.5°F. higher than the average of body temperatures taken at two-hour intervals. Thus, if an average body temperature were given for Leghorn hens these data indicate that it would be between 106 and 107°F. for both the closely confined (caged) and not closely confined (pen). However, since it is shown in Tables 1 and 3 that individual body temperatures may range between 103.2 and 110.4°F., it seems inadvisable to list any given temperature as "average" or "normal." These data also indicate that close confinement does not affect greatly the extremes between which single readings of the body temperature of a healthy Leghorn hen may fluctuate. The lowest body tem-
of egg production on body temperature Average body temperature
Eggs Laid Pen Leghorns No. 276 315 331 317 Pen Rhode Island Red No. 868 1257 1841
No.
Morning
Afternoon
Average
Range
°F.
"F.
"F.
"F.
113 117 140 23
106.42 106.17 106.51 106.19
107.02 106.92 107.20 106.88
106.71 106.53 106.84 106.52
105.1-108.8 104.2-108.8 105.0-109.4 103.2-109.0
0 0 79
106.13 106.04 106.64
106.78 106.26 107.23
106.44 106.15 106.97
105.0-107.7 104.0-107.8 105.4-110.0
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"F.
Afternoon temperature
320
BUET W. HEYWANG
perature recorded among the three Leghorn hens in cages was 104.8°F. and the highest was 110.0°F., while the lowest body temperature recorded among the three Leghorns in the pen was 104.2 °F. and the
than Leghorns confined to a relatively large area when the average air temperature was above 100°F. The data listed in Table 1 show that the temperature of the Rhode Island Reds in
TABLE 4.—Diurnal variation of the body temperature of hens (°F) First Day Time of Day
Second Day
Av. Body Temp.
72 83 91 98 97 86 74 69 68 62 60 58
106.42 106.66 107.00 107.59 107.51 106.97 105.85 105.77 105.84 105.95 105.91 106.29
—
—
Both Days
Av. Body Temp.
Range of Body Temp.
72 82 89 98 96 83 72 67 64 62 60 56 70
106.41 106.42 106.69 107.18 107.55 106.91 106.00 105.83 105.74 105.87 105.90 106.44 106.71
105.5-108.4 105.1-108.0 105.9-108.3 106.0-109.4 106.6-109.6 106.2-108.4 104.8-107.8 104.3-107.8 104.4-107.0 104.6-107.2 103.6-107.6 104.6-108.0 105.6-108.8
—
Second Period 106.75 71 106.59 80 106.74 88 107.82 96 107.77 93 107.01 82 106.17 72 105.90 69 105.81 64 105.85 63 105.95 60 106.32 58 68 —
106.65 106.34 106.59 107.34 107.40 106.92 106.23 105.75 105.69 105.91 105.97 106.20 106.47
105.6-108.2 105.2-108.2 105.6-108.6 106.6-110.0 106.4-110.2 106.2-108.6 105.0-108.1 104.6-108.2 104.4-107.1 104.4-107.3 104.8-108.0 104.6-108.0 105.6-107.6
55 66 71 77 76 62 52 48 46 44 42 42
106.73 106.66 106.37 106.60 106.78 106.45 106.00 105.77 105.42 105.65 105.73 106.20
—
—
106.75 106.53 106.44 106.37 106.78 106.75 105.86 105.51 105.36 105.61 105.87 106.33 106.52
105.8-107.9 105.8-107.4 105.7-107.3 105.6-107.5 106.0-107.4 105.9-107.4 104.8-107.2 104.9-106.4 104.4-106.2 104.8-106.4 104.8-106.6 105.4-106.8 105.5-107.3
Room Temp.
First Period 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
66 81 88 97 94 81 73 68 66 62 59 58
Third Period 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8
A.M. M. P.M.
A.M.
highest was 109.4°F. It should be noted, however, that the laying Leghorn hens closely confined had a higher average body temperature between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
53 68 74 79 76 64 56 50 48 46 44 42 54
cages fluctuated similarly to those of the Leghorns in cages in that their average a.m. body temperatures decreased when the a.m. air temperature rose above 70°F. The
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Room Temp.
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS
p.m. body temperatures of all nine fowls, whether closely or not closely confined, tended to increase noticeably after the p.m. air temperature rose above 86°F., but the increase was greater in the closely confined fowls. EFFECT OF EGG PRODUCTION
when the fowls were not laying was 106.17°F. The average of 184 body temperatures taken between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. when the p.m. room temperature range was 91 to 111°F. and the fowls were laying was 107.68°F.; the average of 116 body temperatures taken between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the same air temperature range when the fowls were not laying was 107.86°F. Apparently a "good," or "fair," layer has about the same average body temperature during periods when she is laying and when she is not. Since none of the fowls were molting, these data do not indicate the body temperature of a fowl during a molt. THE BODY TEMPERATURE CURVE OF HENS
'
Starting October 3, 10, and 24, 1935, body temperatures were taken at two-hour intervals of two Rhode Island Red hens confined to cages, three Rhode Island Red hens confined to a pen, two White Leghorn hens confined to cages, and four White Leghorn hens confined to a pen, all fowls being in the same building. Air temperatures were recorded when body temperatures were taken. The thermometers were similar to those previously mentioned, and the method of taking temperatures was similar. Since the room temperatures were lower during the third period of recording than during the second or first period, the results during the three periods are listed separately in Table 4. Body temperatures for all fowls are averaged by time periods in Table 4 because all showed the same general tendency to rise or fall according to time of day. The average room temperature during the first period was 75.6°F. and the average body temperature was 106.5°F.; during the second period they were respectively 74.3°F. and 106.5°F.; during the third period 57.4°F. and 106,2°F. In connection with the effect of
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Although the number of birds represented seems too small for definite conclusions, the data in Table 3 indicate that a "good" layer has a higher average body temperature than a "poor" or a non-layer. However, the degree of increase in body temperature in a layer compared to a non-layer seems to depend upon the individual. The "number of eggs laid" in Table 3 is the number laid during the period for which air and body temperatures are given. The body temperatures of the Rhode Island Reds and of the Leghorns in Table 3 cannot be compared since those of the Leghorns cover the entire experimental period, while those of the Rhode Island Reds include only 531 readings taken during the period January 23, 1935, and June 22, 1935. During the entire period of taking temperatures there were intervals during which the six Leghorns represented in Tables 1 and 2 were not laying. For example, one hen did not lay until several weeks after temperatures were first taken and did not lay during the last three weeks. As an indication of whether a hen has a different average body temperature during laying and non-laying periods, a comparison was made of average body temperatures during two different ranges of air temperatures. The average of 261 body temperatures, taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the a.m. room temperature range was 36 to 55°F. and the fowls were laying was 106.33°F.; the average of 185 body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 &.gi. during the same air temperature range
321
322
BUET W. HEYWANG
air temperature on body temperature it is interesting to note that the average body temperatures at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. during the first and second periods were noticeably higher than the average body temperatures at the same hours during the third period, and that the air temperatures at those hours during the first two periods were also higher than during the third period.
PER* TURE
100 90
e
70
<
/
80
60
/ / \
j
I
"f 108
5 : ]
107
j .
106
>}
FIG. 1. Diurnal body and air temperature at two hour intervals.
Temperatures during all three periods are averaged and presented in Figure 1 to show graphically the variations in body temperatures by two-hour periods during a total period of 48 hours. Body temperatures were lowest at midnight and highest at 4 p.m., there being a difference of approximately 1.5°F. Except for the period between midnight and 6 a.m. when body temperatures increased and air temperature decreased, the curves in Figure 1 show that body temperatures increased or decreased as air temperature increased or decreased. While both the average body temperature and the
SUMMARY Body temperatures at different air temperatures of three White Leghorn and three Rhode Island Red hens closely confined, and three White Leghorn hens not closely confined were taken during a period of about ly-i months. An appreciable increase in average body temperature taken between 3 p.m. and S p.m. accompanied an increase in air temperature when the latter was above 86°F. The increase in average body temperature was greater in closely confined Leghorn hens than in those that were not closely confined. On days of high air temperatures, the average of body temperatures taken between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. decreased as the average of body temperatures taken between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. increased, and the difference was greater in closely confined hens. A comparison of the body temperatures of three Leghorn hens that laid reasonably well with those of one that was a poor layer, and a comparison of the body temperature of a Rhode Island Red that was a fair layer with those of two that did not lay indicated that a laying hen may have a slightly higher average body temperature than a
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DIURNAL BODY AND AIR TEMPERATURES AT TWO HOUR INTERVALS
average air temperature were highest at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., the lowest average air temperature was at 6 a.m. and the lowest average body temperature at midnight. The greatest change in body temperatures occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., when there was a drop of about 0.80° F. The body temperature curve agrees in general with that of Fronda (1925), who attributes the variations to activity of the fowl and to the influence of the digestive processes. His conclusions seem reasonable, but these data indicate that air temperature may influence body temperature, particularly between noon and 6 p.m. during periods of high air temperature.
EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF HENS
323
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poor or non-layer. A comparison of the were not lowest during the coolest part; body temperatures of six Leghorn hens dur- (3) the greatest change in body temperaing periods when they were and were not tures occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. laying indicated that a hen may have ap- when there was a decrease of about 0.80 °F. proximately the same average body temperaIndividual recordings of the body temture during laying and non-laying periods. perature of healthy, non-broody hens The average body temperatures of five ranged between 103.2°F. and 110.4°F. Rhode Island Red and six White Leghorn REFERENCES hens taken at two-hour intervals during three periods of 48 hours each showed: Fronda, F. M., 1925. Some observations on the body temperature of poultry. Cornell Vet. I S : (1) body temperatures were lowest at mid8-20. night and highest at 4 p.m.; (2) body tem- Bennion, N. L., and D. C. Warren, 1933. Temperaperatures were highest during the hottest ture and its effect on egg size in the domestic part of the day, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but fowl. Poul. Sci. 12 :69-82.