Poultry Heat Stress: Prevention and Response

Heat stress in poultry causes significant welfare harm and mortality, requiring proactive ventilation management and emergency response protocols.

Key Facts

Poultry cannot sweat and rely on respiratory panting to lose heat, making them vulnerable in hot conditions
Critical temperature thresholds for broilers are lower than commonly assumed, around 25-27 degrees C at high humidity
Heat events can kill thousands of birds within hours if ventilation systems fail or are inadequate
Emergency protocols including misting systems, increased ventilation, and reduced stocking density reduce mortality

Welfare Considerations

Poultry heat stress causes acute physiological distress characterized by rapid panting, reduced activity, and accumulation in cool areas. As body temperature rises, cardiac function is impaired and, without relief, birds collapse and die. The welfare harm from severe heat events is extreme — birds in the final stages of heat stress are experiencing significant suffering before death. Prevention through good ventilation design, monitoring systems that alert farmers to rising temperatures, and contingency protocols for extreme weather is far preferable to emergency response. The increasing frequency of extreme heat events under climate change makes heat stress planning a priority welfare and business continuity issue.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards that require minimum ventilation capacity and heat emergency protocols
Advocate for building standards for new poultry houses that account for projected future temperatures
Choose certified poultry products from farms with documented heat management plans
Encourage poultry producers to invest in monitoring systems that provide early warning of heat events