Breathing: a fragile system, sensitive to dust and ammonia
A chicken breathes 20 to 40 times a minute at rest, and each breath passes not only through its lungs but through nine air pouches that reach down into its belly and into its bones. This system, brilliant for flying, is an open door to everything floating in the air of a house: dust, ammonia, microbes. Most of the respiratory diseases of cycle 1 begin with poor air quality. This lesson explains why, and how to judge the air without instruments.
12 min read · 5-question quiz at the end
By Abdul Hussein ChoumanFounder of NEXTEKCI · Agnibilékrou hatchery since 2006Lesson reserved for students following the steps
This lesson is part of Level 6 — The bird: anatomy, physiology, behaviour. It opens to registered students who have passed the level 5 exam. Levels 1 to 5 and the tracks remain readable by everyone.
What you will learn
- ✓Describe the chicken's respiratory system and explain why it lacks the defences of a mammal
- ✓Count a breathing rate and know the normal and alert values
- ✓Judge the ammonia and dust of a house with your eyes, nose and throat, and know the thresholds
- ✓Link litter, density, ventilation and lung health through precise actions