Poultry Heat Stress: Climate Change and Thermal Welfare in Farmed Birds

Heat stress is a growing welfare and production challenge in poultry farming as climate change increases temperature extremes. Understanding and preventing heat stress protects bird welfare.

Key Facts

Broiler chickens and turkeys selected for muscle mass have limited capacity to dissipate body heat
Heat stress begins in broilers at environmental temperatures above 26 to 28 degrees Celsius
Severe heat stress causes panting, reduced feed intake, prostration, and death in poultry
Mortality during extreme heat events can affect a significant proportion of poultry houses without adequate ventilation
Emergency ventilation failures during power outages have resulted in catastrophic welfare emergencies on multiple farms
Cooling strategies include tunnel ventilation, evaporative cooling, reduced stocking density, and modified feed timing
Selective breeding for heat tolerance traits is an emerging approach to reduce poultry vulnerability to high temperatures

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is making heat stress one of the most pressing emerging welfare challenges in poultry farming. As summer temperatures increase in frequency and intensity, existing housing systems and management practices that were adequate are increasingly failing to protect bird welfare. The physiological vulnerability of fast-growing broiler breeds to heat is compounded by high stocking densities that increase the thermal load within houses. Emergency preparedness for ventilation failures, which can kill tens of thousands of birds within hours during extreme heat, is an essential but often neglected aspect of poultry welfare planning. Adaptation strategies including higher-welfare breeds with better heat tolerance, improved building design, backup power systems, and adjusted stocking densities during hot periods are increasingly important for maintaining acceptable welfare standards.

What You Can Do

Support poultry producers with documented heat stress management plans and emergency ventilation backup systems
Advocate for regulatory requirements for emergency power backup in poultry houses in heat-prone regions
Learn about the connection between fast-growing breeds and heat stress vulnerability to inform welfare advocacy
Support research into heat-tolerant poultry breeds that can better withstand warming climates
Encourage poultry industry climate adaptation planning that prioritises bird welfare alongside production outcomes