Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

Influence of Floor Space Allocation in Managing Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens; A Review

Abubakar, S., Sakaba, A. M., Abubakar, M., and Bashir, M. A.

Abstract

Heat stress poses a major constraint to broiler production in tropical and semi-arid regions, compromising bird welfare, performance, and meat quality. Adequate floor space allowance is widely recognized as a critical management tool to mitigate heat stress and promote natural behaviours, yet its implementation remains challenging under resource-limited settings. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the physiological and production effects of heat stress in broiler chickens, the welfare and performance benefits of optimal floor space, and the negative consequences of overcrowding. Based on empirical floor space guidelines from a 2025 field survey in Nigeria (0.65–1.7 ft2/bird for broilers of 1.4–3.2 kg; and 0.06–0.16 m2/bird for layers from 0 to 72 weeks), the paper highlights that adequate spacing improves feed conversion, reduces mortality, lowers ammonia build-up, and decreases the incidence of footpad dermatitis and heat-related mortalities. However, in semi-arid Nigeria, the adoption of recommended stocking densities is severely constrained by economic pressures (high input costs, market price instability), infrastructural deficits (erratic electricity, poor housing design), climatic stressors (water scarcity, extreme heat), limited technical knowledge, and the absence of enforceable animal welfare regulations. Overcrowding remains a common but counterproductive coping strategy, leading to stunted growth, poor litter quality, rapid disease spread, and increased cannibalism. The review concludes that context-specific, economically viable space allowances, combined with improved housing, ventilation, and extension services, are urgently needed to balance bird welfare and farm profitability in semi-arid environments. Policy interventions and farmer education are essential to translate floor space recommendations into sustainable poultry production systems.

Keywords

Broiler chicken; floor space allowance; heat stress; semi-arid Nigeria and animal welfare

References

Ahmad, R.; Yu, Y.-H.; Hsiao, F.S.-H.; Su, C.-H.; Liu, H.-C.; Tobin, I.; Zhang, G.; Cheng, Y.-H. Influence of Heat Stress on Poultry Growth Performance, Intestinal Inflammation, and Immune Function and Potential Mitigation by Probiotics. Animals 2022, 12, 2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172297 Apalowo, O. O., Ekunseitan, D. A., & Fasina, Y. O. (2024). Impact of heat stress on broiler chicken production. Poultry science journal, 3(2), 107-128. Appleby, M. C., Mench, J. A., & Hughes, B. O. (2004). Poultry behaviour and welfare. Cabi. Ashish Ranjan, Ranjana Sinha, Indu Devi, Abdul Rahim and Shiwani Tiwari. 2019. Effect of Heat Stress on Poultry Production and their Managemental Approaches. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 8(02): 1548-1555. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.802.181 Awad, E. A., Najaa, M., Zulaikha, Z. A., Zulkifli, I., & Soleimani, A. F. (2019). Effects of heat stress on growth performance, selected physiolog-ical and immunological parameters, caecal microflora, and meatquality in two broiler strains. Asian-Australasian Journal of AnimalSciences, 33(5), 778–787. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0208. Borges, S. A., Da Silva, A. F., Majorka, A., Hooge, D. M., & Cummings, K. R. (2004). Physiological responses of broiler chickens to heat stress and dietary electrolyte balance (sodium plus potassium minus chloride, milliequivalents per kilogram). Poultry science, 83(9), 1551-1558. Bueno, J.P.R.; Gotardo, L.R.M.; Dos Santos, A.M.; Litz, F.H.; Olivieri, O.C.L.; Alves, R.L.O.R.; Moraes, C.A.; de Mattos Nascimento, M.R.B. Effect of cyclic heat stress on thyroidal hormones, thyroid histology, and performance of two broiler strains. Int. J. Biometeorol. 2020, 64, 1125–1132. Dozier 3rd, W. A., Thaxton, J. P., Branton, S. L., Morgan, G. W., Miles, D. M., Roush, W. B., ... & Vizzier-Thaxton, Y. (2005). Stocking density effects on growth performance and processing yields of heavy broilers. Poultry science, 84(8), 1332-1338. Dunlop, M. W., Blackall, P. J., & Stuetz, R. M. (2016). Odour emissions from poultry litter–A review litter properties, odour formation and odorant emissions from porous materials. Journal of environmental management, 177, 306-319. Estevez, I. (2007). Density allowances for broilers: where to set the limits?. Poultry Science, 86(6), 1265-1272. Haldar, A., Samanta, I., & Patra, A. K. (2022). Knowledge‐Intensive Livestock Resource Management in a Changing Environment. Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies, 117-168. Idris, O. O., Ogunmefun, O. T., & Tuesimi, C. N. (2021). Gravimetric Profile of Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacterial and Fungal Isolates from Contaminated Soil Samples in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. ABUAD International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 1(1), 8-17. Krishnan, G., Devaraj, C., Silpa, M. V., & Sejian, V. (2023). Thermoregulation in birds. In Textbook of veterinary physiology (pp. 751-764). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. Lara, L. J., & Rostagno, M. H. (2013). Impact of heat stress on poultry production. Animals, 3(2), 356-369. Martrenchar, A., Boilletot, E., Cotte, J. P., & Morisse, J. P. (2001). Wire-floor pens as an alternative to metallic cages in fattening rabbits: influence on some welfare traits. Animal Welfare, 10(2), 153-161. Mashaly, M. M., Hendricks 3rd, G. L., Kalama, M. A., Gehad, A. E., Abbas, A. O., & Patterson, P. H. (2004). Effect of heat stress on production parameters and immune responses of commercial laying hens. Poultry science, 83(6), 889-894. Mujahid, A., Yoshiki, Y., Akiba, Y., & Toyomizu, M. (2005). Superoxide radical production in chicken skeletal muscle induced by acute heat stress. Poultry science, 84(2), 307-314. Oke, O. E., Oliyide, K. M., Akosile, O. A., Oni, A. I., Adekunle, E. O., Oyebanji, B. O., ... & Daramola, J. O. (2025). Innovations in Quail Welfare: Integrating Environmental Enrichment, Nutrition and Genetic Advances for Improved Health and Productivity. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 11(4), e70424. Olagunju, O. O. (2024). Adoption of E-extension System for Effective Delivery of Climate- Smart Agricultural Practices in Nigeria. Journal Of Agriculture, 3(2), 1-11. Oloruntola, O. D., Ayodele, S. O., Omoniyi, I. S., Adeyeye, S. A., & Adegbeye, M. J. (2022). The effect of dietary supplementation of mucuna leaf meal on the growth performance, blood parameters, and carcass quality of broiler. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 44, e55362. Oloruntola, O. D., Ayodele, S. O., Omoniyi, I. S., Adeyeye, S. A., & Adegbeye, M. J. (2022). The effect of dietary supplementation of mucuna leaf meal on the growth performance, blood parameters, and carcass quality of broiler. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 44, e55362. Rostagno, M. H. (2020). Effects of heat stress on the gut health of poultry. Journal of animal science, 98(4), skaa090. Shakeri, M. and Le, H.H. Deleterious Effects of Heat Stress on Poultry Production: Unveiling the Benefits of Betaine and Polyphenols. Poultry 2022, 1, 147–156. https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry1030013 Siegel, H. (1995). Stress, strains and resistance. Skrbic, Z., Pavlovski, Z., Lukic, M., & Petricevic, V. (2015). Incidence of footpad dermatitis and hock burns in broilers as affected by genotype, lighting program and litter type. Annals of Animal Science, 15(2), 433. Sohail, M. U., Hume, M. E., Byrd, J. A., Nisbet, D. J., Ijaz, A., Sohail, A., ... & Rehman, H. (2012). Effect of supplementation of prebiotic mannan-oligosaccharides and probiotic mixture on growth performance of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress. Poultry science, 91(9), 2235-2240. Torhemen, M., Ocheja, J. O., Torhemen, L. H., Eboh, S., Adegbe, J. Y., & Apeh, U. J. (2022). Protein-Energy Relationships in Poultry Nutrition: A Review. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 1167-1170. Wasti, S.; Sah, N.; Mishra, B. Impact of heat stress on poultry health and performances, and potential mitigation strategies. Animals 2020, 10, 1266. Zhang, Z. J., Wang, X. M., & McAlonan, G. M. (2012). Neural acupuncture unit: a new concept for interpreting effects and mechanisms of acupuncture. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012(1), 429412.