Poultry Thermal Environment Welfare

Temperature management in poultry housing is critical for welfare, with both heat and cold stress causing significant welfare and production impacts.

Key Facts

Broilers are most comfortable at approximately 18-22C with variation by age and breed
Heat stress causes panting, reduced feed intake, and mortality at temperatures above 28-30C
Chicks require temperatures of 32-35C in the first week of life, reducing as they age
Poorly insulated buildings cause significant temperature variation and welfare problems
Climate control system failure during extreme weather is a welfare emergency requiring contingency planning

Welfare Considerations

Poultry thermal environment welfare reflects the direct physiological impact of temperature on birds that are unable to thermoregulate independently. Commercial broilers maintained within the thermal neutral zone show better welfare indicators, better feed conversion, and lower mortality. At temperatures outside this zone, birds experience physiological stress of varying severity. Heat stress events during extreme summer conditions can kill thousands of birds rapidly in inadequately ventilated or cooled houses. Proactive thermal management, climate-adapted housing design, and contingency planning for system failures address welfare risks that are increasing with climate change.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards requiring climate control monitoring and contingency planning
Advocate for housing design standards that prevent extreme thermal conditions
Ask retailers about heat stress management in their poultry supply chains
Follow poultry welfare research on thermal environment from the Poultry Welfare Centre