The influence of low environmental temperature on thermoregulation in hens

The investigation concerned the physical thermoregulatory mechanism in hens kept in the conditions of low air temperature (x = 9.8 degreesC), high hum idity (84.8%) and excessive body heat loss (39.3 mW/cm(2)). The measurement s were taken: internal body temperature, temperature of feathered (thermost able points) and bare skin areas (thermolabile points), and the Burton circ ulatory index was determined. It was discovered that air movement and body heat loss had the most significant influence on the temperature of thermost able points and - indirectly through tissue conductivity - on internal body temperature. The value of the thermo:' stable points on the skin was affec ted by all the examined weather factors. The fact that the Burton index at bare skin areas was four times lower than in thermostabile points proves th e good skin insulation of these skin points.