Effective climate management in broiler houses during summer is critical to prevent heat stress deaths and chronic welfare deterioration as temperatures rise with climate change.
Broiler chickens experiencing heat stress pant continuously, increase water intake, reduce feed consumption, and crowd toward ventilation inlets. Severe heat stress causes death from cardiovascular failure and neurological heat stroke. Chronic mild heat stress causes persistent welfare impacts through reduced activity, altered social behaviour, and impaired immune function. Inadequate climate management during heat events represents one of the most preventable causes of large-scale welfare failure in commercial poultry production.