Heat stress is one of the most significant welfare and productivity challenges in commercial poultry production, causing suffering in billions of birds and worsening with climate change.
Heat stress in poultry causes acute suffering as birds attempt to cool through panting, wing spreading, and reduced activity. Severe heat prostration leaves birds unable to reach water and food, accelerating dehydration and organ failure. The genetic selection of modern broilers for fast growth creates bodies that generate high metabolic heat while simultaneously being less efficient at dissipating it. Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent, and many existing poultry housing infrastructure was not designed for current temperature extremes. Addressing heat stress requires both immediate farm-level interventions and longer-term breed selection strategies that prioritize thermal tolerance.