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Heat Waves Are Taking a Big Toll on Chickens
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- On June 23, during France's record-breaking heatwave, 1,500 chickens died from extreme temperatures inside a farm shed, representing one-third of the flock.
- The chickens were 19 days from slaughter and raised by Isabelle Renaudier for supermarkets and butchers in northwestern France.
- Chickens are highly vulnerable to heat due to their inability to sweat and their feather coverage, leading to panting that can cause dehydration and energy loss.
- Fast-growing broiler chickens, bred for quick size gain and lean meat, are especially susceptible to heat stress because of their high metabolism.
- This incident highlights the challenge of raising poultry engineered for efficiency in the face of increasing global temperatures.
