In this study the thermal comfort indexes were analyzed in the growth phase of laying hens housed in installation with different types of roofing materials in the Northeast of Brazil. The laying hen-houses were assessed through black globe temperature and humidity index (WBGT), radiating thermal load (RTL) and the relative humidity. The mean analysis had showed that the laying-hen houses provided uncomfortable environmental indexes in all growth phases, where the thermal comfort indexes were below the thermal comfort zone during the early begining of chicken growing as well as in final phase when the indices were above the zone. During the hottest hours of the day, the laying-hen houses under ceramic roof tiles showed results in RTL better than the laying-hen houses using asbestos roofing tiles, providing best thermal comfort for laying hens in the growth phase.
eggs quality; layers; environment
