Regulation: NFACC 2016 Poultry Code — brooding temperature requirements
The NFACC 2016 Poultry Code guideline is 30–34°C at bird level for broiler chickens in days 1–7, lowered by 2–3°C each week, and 32–35°C for turkeys. The Requirement itself is observational: bird behaviour must be observed and corrective action taken if birds show thermal discomfort.
Confidence: Verified.
National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys, 2016 edition (currently under update — revision initiated 2023).
NFACC codes are not statutory but are referenced in OFFSAP / CFIA / provincial welfare audits as the standard.
Brooding temperature targets — Section 3.3.1 General Guidelines
- Broiler chickens days 1–7: 30–34°C (86–93°F) at bird level.
- Lower by 2–3°C each subsequent week.
- Turkeys days 1–7: 32–35°C (90–95°F) — approximately 2°C warmer than broilers.
Verbatim Requirement (observational, not numeric)
"Bird behaviour must be observed and necessary corrective action taken as soon as possible if birds are displaying signs of thermal discomfort."
Operational test
Chick distribution. Huddled = too cold; spread to walls = too hot. The Requirement is bird behaviour, not a specific temperature reading. Operators should not treat 30–34°C as a hard regulatory threshold — the regulatory test is observable bird behaviour.
Propane-relevance
Brooding week is the structural fuel-consumption event for broiler and turkey operations. Approximately 50% of cycle propane is consumed in the first week at peak brooding temperatures. Detail in Concept: Poultry barn propane load profile.
Sources
National Farm Animal Care Council, Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys, 2016 (currently under update).
On the Boucher & Jones site: Agriculture