Turkey house temperature — week-by-week table
A plain-language guide to what air temperature should be in the turkey house at each week of rearing. We give indicative figures from Aviagen Turkeys and explain why the birds themselves are more reliable than any thermometer.
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Turkeys need warmth — especially at the start. Poults regulate their own body temperature less well than chicks, so house air temperature matters a great deal for them throughout the first weeks. This is part of the turkey guide cluster — the full picture of turkey farming is in the guide on turkey farming. The detail of the first days is covered in the guide on turkey poult rearing — the first days.
Where do the numbers in this table come from?
All temperature values are indicative and based on Aviagen Turkeys guidelines for commercial turkey lines (BUT — British United Turkeys, Nicholas). Different lines, different poult suppliers and different farm conditions may require adjustments. Treat the table as a starting point, not a rigid rule. The birds are always the best thermometer in the house — their behaviour tells you more than any sensor display.
Where should you measure temperature?
Always at bird level — at the floor, not under the ceiling. A thermometer hung high under the roof will read several degrees higher and can mislead you. In the first weeks, measure temperature near the heating canopy (a brooder — a device that warms the space above the poults just as a hen warms her chicks), but also to the side, so you know the air temperature across the whole house.
Indicative turkey house temperature — week by week
Indicative values per Aviagen Turkeys (CL23)*. Adjust to bird behaviour, line and farm conditions.
Day 1 (placement)
Under the heating canopy (brooder): about ~40°C. Air in the house: about ~36–37°C. Pre-heat the house and litter BEFORE the poults arrive — a cold floor chills poults through their feet. Litter temperature at placement should be close to air temperature.
Week 1 (days 1–7)
House air temperature steps gradually from about ~36°C down to about ~32°C. This is the phase when poults rely most on the heating canopy. Watch how they spread: clustered tightly under the canopy = too cold; running to the walls and panting = too hot.
Week 2 (days 8–14)
About ~29–31°C. Poults begin to regulate body temperature a little better, but are still sensitive. Watch for night-time temperature drops and draughts — the day-to-night swing can harm poults more than a temperature that is slightly below target all day.
Week 3 (days 15–21)
About ~26–28°C. Poults are noticeably larger and handle cold better. This is an important growth phase — too low a temperature hits weight gain and increases feed conversion.
Week 4 (days 22–28)
About ~23–25°C. The birds are increasingly feathered. In warm weather, make sure ventilation is working to prevent heat stress — turkeys tolerate heat worse than chickens, especially as they grow larger.
Week 5 (days 29–35)
About ~21–23°C. Toms are growing quickly and generating plenty of body heat themselves. Make sure the house temperature does not creep up — a large flock can raise the felt temperature in a big house on its own.
Week 6 (days 36–42)
About ~19–21°C. The birds are well feathered. Ventilation becomes more important than heating — the goal is fresh air and removing heat produced by the flock.
From week 7–8 to end of rearing
About ~16–18°C, targeting about ~16°C. Large toms and hens generate their own heat and handle cooler conditions well. Good ventilation without direct draughts on the birds becomes the main priority.
How turkeys tell you whether the temperature is right
The thermometer is just a guide. Birds are the best indicator — observe them at least several times a day.
Even spread — all good
Poults move freely around the whole house, eating, drinking and active. Some lie down, some run about — and none cluster in a panic in one spot. This means the temperature is right.
Clustering under the canopy or in the centre — too cold
Poults crowd close to the heat source and call loudly. This is a clear signal that it is too cold. Raise the temperature or check that the canopy is working correctly.
Running to the walls and panting — too hot
Poults keep away from the heat source, pant with open beaks, spread their wings and lie still. This is heat stress — lower the temperature and improve ventilation.
Crowding in corners and calling — too cold or draughty
Birds crowd into a corner — not under the canopy — which may mean a draught or one cold spot in the house. Check whether cold air is blowing in from one side. In the early weeks, draughts are more dangerous than simply being cold.
Frequently asked questions about turkey house temperature
What temperature do turkey poults need in the first week?add
On placement day the air in the house should be about ~36–37°C, and under the heating canopy (brooder) about ~40°C. During the first week the air temperature steps gradually down to about ~32°C. These are indicative values from Aviagen Turkeys — always adjust to bird behaviour. Clustering under the canopy = too cold; running to the walls = too hot.
How much should you lower the temperature each week?add
Roughly about ~2–4°C per week — from about ~36°C on day one down to about ~16°C from week 7–8. Step down gradually, not in jumps. There is no single rule of "one degree per week" — what matters is bird behaviour, not the calculator. If after a reduction the birds cluster and call, step back up a degree or two.
Where should you measure temperature in a turkey house?add
Always at bird level — at the floor or no more than a few centimetres above the litter. A thermometer under the ceiling will read noticeably higher and can mislead you. In the first weeks, also measure near the heating canopy and to the side, so you know what the temperature looks like across the whole house.
Do turkeys need higher temperatures than chickens?add
Yes, especially in the first weeks. Poults regulate body temperature less well than broiler chicks and are more sensitive to cold at the start. In the first week, house air temperature for turkeys (~36°C) is noticeably higher than a typical broiler starting temperature (~32–34°C). The gap narrows with age — large toms handle cooler conditions well.
What is a heating canopy (brooder)?add
A heating canopy, also called a brooder, is a heating device hung low over the litter that warms the space directly above the poults — just as a hen warms her chicks with her wings. Under the canopy it is warmer than in the rest of the house. Poults choose for themselves whether to go under it (when they are cold) or move away (when they are warm).
What should you do if poults cluster under the canopy and call loudly?add
This signals it is too cold. First check that the heating canopy is working correctly. If it is — raise the house temperature or lower the canopy closer to the floor. Also check for draughts — in the first weeks a draught is more dangerous than a slightly low temperature. After correcting the conditions, watch how the birds spread again.
Sources & resources
Monitor turkey house temperature with DlaFerm.pl
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