Poultry are highly susceptible to heat stress. As climate change increases summer temperatures, managing thermal stress in chickens and turkeys is an urgent welfare priority.
Poultry heat stress welfare is an increasingly urgent concern as British summers become hotter and longer. A chicken experiencing acute heat stress is in genuine physiological distress: panting rapidly, seeking shade, refusing food, and potentially dying from hyperthermia. Modern broiler breeds are particularly vulnerable because their metabolic rate from rapid growth generates additional body heat. Indoor housing - while providing some protection from direct sun - can become dangerously hot without adequate ventilation. Welfare-conscious hot weather management requires: functioning mechanical ventilation systems, cool fresh water at all times, reduced stocking density, and emergency protocols for power-cut scenarios when ventilation fails.