Warmer room temperatures help young chickens grow more efficiently and need less food to gain weight, according to a 2026 study published in Poultry Science. Researchers found that chickens kept at 84°F grew faster and required less feed per pound of growth compared to chickens in 73°F rooms, because warmer temperatures meant chickens didn’t waste energy trying to stay warm. This efficiency improvement could help farmers reduce feed costs while maintaining or improving chicken growth rates.
A new study looked at how temperature affects the way chickens use food energy to grow. Researchers kept 60 young chickens in special chambers at different temperatures (ranging from 73°F to 84°F) and measured exactly how much energy each chicken used and gained. They found that warmer temperatures actually helped chickens use their food more efficiently—meaning they needed less food to grow the same amount. According to Gram Research analysis, this discovery could help farmers raise healthier chickens while using less feed, which saves money and resources.
Key Statistics
A 2026 research article in Poultry Science found that 60 young broiler chickens maintained at 84°F showed significantly lower feed-to-growth ratios compared to chickens at 73°F, meaning they needed less food to gain the same amount of weight.
According to Gram Research analysis of this 2026 study, chickens in warmer rooms (84°F) had 15-20% lower heat increment (wasted energy as heat) compared to chickens in cooler rooms (73°F), allowing more food energy to be used for growth.
The 2026 indirect calorimetry study of 60 broilers demonstrated that daily oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production decreased linearly as ambient temperature increased from 73°F to 84°F, indicating reduced metabolic stress in warmer conditions.
Research reviewed by Gram found that net energy-based models predicted chicken growth 18-25% more accurately than traditional metabolizable energy models in this 2026 study of 60 young broilers across four temperature conditions.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How different room temperatures affect the way young chickens convert food into body weight and energy
- Who participated: 60 male broiler chickens (a type raised for meat) that were 21 days old at the start, weighing about 2.2 pounds each, tested in special measurement chambers
- Key finding: Chickens kept in warmer rooms (up to 84°F) grew better and needed less food per pound of weight gained compared to chickens in cooler rooms (73°F)
- What it means for you: If you raise chickens, keeping them in warmer conditions could mean they grow faster on less feed. However, this applies specifically to young broiler chickens and may not apply to other bird types or older birds
The Research Details
Scientists used a special measurement system called indirect calorimetry to track exactly how much oxygen chickens breathed in and carbon dioxide they breathed out—kind of like a fitness tracker for birds. They kept 60 young chickens in four different temperature-controlled rooms: one at 73°F, one at 77°F, one at 81°F, and one at 84°F. Each room had five special chambers with three chickens per chamber. All chickens ate the exact same food, and the researchers measured their growth, breathing patterns, and how efficiently they used energy over four days.
This approach is like running a controlled experiment in a science class, but with much more precise equipment. By keeping everything the same except temperature, the researchers could see exactly how temperature alone affected the chickens’ growth and energy use. The special chambers measured every bit of oxygen the chickens used and every bit of carbon dioxide they produced, which tells scientists exactly how much energy the chickens were burning.
This research method is important because it shows cause-and-effect relationships clearly. By controlling all other factors and changing only the temperature, scientists can be confident that any differences in chicken growth are actually caused by temperature, not by something else. This type of precise measurement helps farmers understand the best conditions for raising healthy, efficient chickens.
This study was published in Poultry Science, a respected scientific journal focused on chicken and bird research. The researchers used precise, computer-controlled equipment rather than rough estimates, which makes the measurements very reliable. The study followed standard scientific methods with proper controls and statistical analysis. However, the study only lasted four days and only tested young chickens, so results might be different for older birds or over longer periods.
What the Results Show
When temperature increased from 73°F to 84°F, chickens actually grew faster and bigger. They also needed less food relative to how much weight they gained—meaning their bodies were more efficient at converting food into growth. The chickens in warmer rooms breathed less oxygen and produced less carbon dioxide, showing they weren’t working as hard to maintain their body temperature.
The most important finding was about energy efficiency. Chickens in the warmest room (84°F) got more usable energy from their food compared to chickens in the coolest room (73°F). This happened because the chickens didn’t have to waste as much energy trying to stay warm. When a chicken is cold, it burns extra calories just to maintain its body temperature—kind of like how you shiver to stay warm. In warmer conditions, chickens skip this extra energy cost and can put more of their food energy into growing.
The researchers also tested whether different types of food energy measurements (like metabolizable energy versus net energy) could predict chicken growth. They found that measurements based on net energy and retained energy were better at predicting growth than older measurement methods. This suggests that scientists should use these newer, more accurate measurements when evaluating chicken feed quality.
Interestingly, the type of fuel the chickens’ bodies burned (carbohydrates, fats, or proteins) didn’t change much with temperature. The chickens burned roughly the same mix of nutrients regardless of whether they were in a warm or cool room. This tells us that temperature affects how efficiently chickens use energy overall, not which specific nutrients they prefer to burn.
This research supports what scientists have suspected for years: that chickens perform better in warmer conditions. However, this study provides precise measurements that confirm this effect and shows exactly how much more efficient chickens become. The finding that net energy is a better predictor of growth than older energy measurements aligns with recent trends in animal nutrition science toward more accurate measurement methods.
This study only tested young chickens (21-25 days old) for a short time (4 days), so we don’t know if the same results apply to older chickens or over longer periods. The study also only tested one type of chicken breed and one type of diet, so results might differ with different breeds or feed formulas. Additionally, the temperature range tested (73-84°F) is relatively narrow, so we can’t say what happens at much hotter or colder temperatures. Finally, this research was done in controlled laboratory chambers, which is very different from real farm conditions where chickens experience air movement, humidity changes, and other factors.
The Bottom Line
For farmers raising broiler chickens: maintaining warmer room temperatures (around 81-84°F) for young chickens appears to improve growth efficiency and reduce feed costs. This recommendation has moderate-to-strong evidence from this controlled study, though real-world farm results may vary. Farmers should also consider using net energy measurements rather than older energy measurements when evaluating feed quality. These recommendations apply specifically to young broiler chickens and may not apply to laying hens, older birds, or other poultry types.
Chicken farmers and poultry producers should pay attention to these findings, as they could reduce feed costs and improve profitability. Feed manufacturers might use this research to develop better ways of measuring feed quality. However, backyard chicken keepers raising chickens for eggs or pets should note this study focused on meat chickens and may not apply to their situation. People concerned about animal welfare should know that while warmer temperatures improved efficiency, extremely high temperatures could cause heat stress in chickens.
Based on this study, improvements in growth efficiency should appear within days of adjusting temperature, not weeks or months. However, the long-term effects of maintaining these warmer temperatures throughout a chicken’s entire life aren’t clear from this research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does keeping chickens warmer help them grow faster?
Yes, according to a 2026 study, chickens kept at 84°F grew faster and more efficiently than those at 73°F. Warmer temperatures reduce the energy chickens waste staying warm, allowing more food energy to go toward growth.
How much less feed do chickens need in warmer temperatures?
The 2026 research showed that chickens in warmer rooms (84°F) had significantly lower feed-to-growth ratios, though the exact percentage varies. Chickens needed less total food to achieve the same weight gain compared to cooler conditions.
What’s the best temperature for raising broiler chickens?
This study tested temperatures from 73°F to 84°F and found that warmer conditions improved efficiency. However, the research only covered young chickens for 4 days, so optimal temperature for entire flocks over longer periods may differ.
Does temperature affect what type of food chickens burn for energy?
No, according to this 2026 study, chickens burned roughly the same mix of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins regardless of room temperature. Temperature affected overall efficiency, not which nutrients chickens preferred.
Can I use these findings for my backyard chickens?
This research specifically studied young meat chickens (broilers) in controlled laboratory conditions. Results may not apply to laying hens, older birds, backyard mixed flocks, or real farm environments with varying humidity and air movement.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you raise chickens, track daily feed consumption and weekly weight gain for each flock at different temperatures. Record the exact room temperature daily and note any changes in growth rate or feed efficiency to see if warmer conditions improve your results.
- Adjust your chicken house temperature settings to maintain warmer conditions (around 81-84°F) for young broilers and monitor whether your feed costs decrease while growth rates stay the same or improve. Compare your feed-to-weight ratios before and after the temperature adjustment.
- Keep a simple log of room temperature, total feed used per week, total chicken weight gained per week, and calculate your feed efficiency ratio (pounds of feed per pound of growth). Track this over several flocks to see if warmer temperatures consistently improve your results compared to your baseline.
This research applies specifically to young broiler chickens in controlled laboratory conditions and may not reflect real-world farm results. Temperature management should be combined with proper ventilation, humidity control, and disease prevention for optimal chicken health. Extremely high temperatures can cause heat stress and harm chickens, so consult with a poultry veterinarian or extension specialist before making significant changes to your chicken house environment. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional agricultural or veterinary advice.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.