Investigating methods of assessing bird wetness as a means to determine fitness for transport

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There are many issues facing the broiler industry when transporting broilers during the cold Canadian winters. One of those issues is the transport of broilers with damp or wet feathers. It is thought that the insulative value of the feathers is decreased when the feathers become wet, thus making the broilers more vulnerable to cold exposure. However, the issue of feather wetness is complex; there are large variations in the amount of moisture held within the feathers. The response is also thought to be dependent upon the ambient temperature, as the ambient temperature can influence the temperature experienced by broilers during transport. Therefore, the objective of this experiment is to develop a method of assessing the amount of moisture held within the feathers of broilers prior to shipping. This research will be pivotal in the next phase of research, which will develop guidelines that the broiler industry can use to determine if the birds can be safely transported.