Alan Stannard, the co-owner of Mandalay Farms and Little Red Hen Eggs in Whitehorse, has been diligently overseeing his 4,400 chickens during the recent weeks. With Yukon experiencing a severe cold spell in December, temperatures dropping to as low as -50°C posed potential risks to the chickens’ health and egg production due to increased humidity in the barn.
Equipped with advanced technology like automatic heaters and ventilators, Stannard can remotely monitor the barn conditions via his cellphone. The system alerts him of any malfunctions or issues such as frozen ventilation or disrupted regulators, ensuring the well-being of the livestock round the clock.
Despite his extensive experience in Northern farming since the early 2000s, Stannard highlighted the challenges posed by sudden extreme weather events like the one encountered in early December. Managing humidity levels and ventilation manually, along with backup generators to combat power outages, are crucial aspects of ensuring the chickens’ welfare and egg production stability.
While the chickens are currently confined indoors due to the cold, Stannard emphasized the importance of not letting them out in temperatures below -10°C to prevent health risks. He humorously noted that subzero conditions could trigger chicken conflicts akin to a “Fight Club” scenario, but reassured that none of the chickens have succumbed to the cold weather thus far.
Amber Elliot, a livestock technician with the Yukon Government, explained that while livestock seldom perish directly from cold temperatures, underlying health issues can escalate when animals are stressed. Limited veterinary services in the region pose challenges for farmers, with options like the veterinary services program in Whitehorse and telehealth platforms like VETson offering support to address livestock healthcare needs in remote areas.
