Heat stress is a growing welfare threat in UK and global poultry production as climate change increases the frequency and severity of summer heat events.
Poultry in houses that cannot maintain temperatures within the thermoneutral zone suffer physiologically measurable heat stress even before showing behavioural signs. Fast-growing broiler breeds are particularly susceptible due to their high metabolic rates. Climate adaptation through housing improvements, ventilation upgrades, and slower-growing breed adoption reduces the welfare burden of heat stress events that are projected to increase in frequency and severity.