System and method for cooling and promoting physical activity of poultry

A sprinkler system for a poultry house for housing poultry, the sprinkler system comprising:

• a) at least one sprinkler nozzle:
• b) a fluid source connected to the at least one sprinkler nozzle;
• c) at least one electronically controlled valve connected to the fluid source and the sprinkler nozzle to control the flow of fluid, the valve having an open position permitting the flow of fluid, and a closed position inhibiting the flow of fluid, and
• d) a controller comprising a processor, a data storage device operatively connected to the processor, the data storage device having instructions to program the processor, an input-output module operatively connected to the processor, wherein the input-output module communicates with the at least one valve to set the position of the valve;
• e) wherein the processor in the controller operates in an activity promotion mode, in which the processor sets the valve in the open position at a start of each of a plurality of activity promotion intervals, and sets the valve in the closed position at the end of the activity promotion intervals, a duration of the activity promotion interval being selected such that fluid is dispersed through the sprinkler nozzle thereby promoting physical activity in poultry housed in the poultry house, the start of each activity promotion interval being based on a frequency of operation parameter indicative of a number of activity promotion intervals in a given time period, and a value for the frequency of operation parameter being selected to promote growth of the poultry, wherein the processor operates the valve so as to create the flow of fluid during the activity promotion intervals independently of temperature.

A sprinkler controller for a poultry house comprising:

• a) a processor;
• b) a data storage device operatively connected to the processor, the data storage device having instructions for operating the processor, and;
• c) an input-output module operatively connected to the processor, wherein the input-output module communicates with at least one valve for controlling a flow of fluid between a fluid source and at least one sprinkler nozzle, the at least one valve having an open position permitting the flow of fluid, and a closed position inhibiting the flow of fluid, the position of the valve being determined by the processor;
• d) wherein the processor operates in an activity promotion mode, in which the processor sets the valve in the open position at a start of each of a plurality of activity promotion intervals, and sets the valve in the closed position at the end of each activity promotion interval, a duration of the activity promotion interval being selected such that fluid is dispersed through the sprinkler nozzle, thereby promoting physical activity in poultry housed in the poultry house, and wherein the processor operates a selected number of the activity promotion intervals in a day independent of a temperature value indicative of the poultry being exposed to heat stress, the number of activity promotion intervals being selected to promote growth of the poultry.