France's Record Heatwave Kills Hundreds of Thousands of Poultry

A historic heatwave has killed hundreds of thousands of chickens and other poultry in France, overwhelming farms and carcass collection services, with dairy production also hit across Western Europe.

What Happened

France recorded its hottest days since records began in 1947. Temperatures reached 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on June 24, according to Météo-France, the national weather service. The heat has persisted for days, with no immediate relief expected.

The losses have been concentrated in two regions: Brittany and Pays de la Loire, which together account for nearly 60% of France's entire poultry flock. The Chambers of Agriculture in both regions described the situation as "massive."

Yann Nedelec, head of the French poultry industry group ANVOL, confirmed: "In our two largest poultry-producing regions, we are seeing excess mortality due to the heat." He estimated at least several hundred thousand birds had died, but said it was too early to give a final count.

Individual Farms Report Catastrophic Losses

The numbers are not just statistics. Farmers across western France have reported losses unlike anything they have seen before.

Clement Blanchard, a chicken farmer in Pays de la Loire, lost around 700 birds over just a few days. On a normal week, he would expect to lose one or two. Stéphane Delapré, a poultry breeder in Beauvoir-sur-Mer in Normandy, saw the heat on June 22 kill roughly half of his 17,600 chickens in a single day. "In my 42-year career, I have never seen anything like it," he said.

A typical French poultry house holds about 20,000 birds. Most farms operate two houses on average, meaning the potential scale of losses per farm is significant.

Why Poultry Are So Vulnerable to Heat

Poultry cannot cool themselves the way mammals do. Dominique Balloy, a veterinarian, explained: "Poultry are animals that do not have a sweat gland, meaning they do not perspire. They therefore dissipate heat by breathing through their beaks."

When temperatures climb, birds breathe faster and faster. At a certain point, core body temperature rises past a safe level and birds die quickly. Both indoor and outdoor farms have been affected, because the heat is extreme enough to overwhelm even ventilated buildings.

Key risk factors during heatwaves like this one include:

Insufficient airflow at bird level inside sheds
High stocking density, which raises the collective heat load
Warm nights that prevent animals from recovering between hot days
Water systems unable to keep up with increased animal demand

Disposal System Overwhelmed

A secondary crisis has developed alongside the deaths. Dead farm animals are normally taken to rendering facilities through regulated collection services. That system has been unable to cope with the volume of carcasses.

French authorities took the unusual step of allowing pig and poultry farmers across western France to bury dead animals on their own land until July 1, pending environmental and technical authorisation. While waiting, farmers were advised to cover carcasses with sawdust or wood shavings to absorb liquids and reduce odour.

Wider Impact on Livestock and Dairy

The heat has not only hit poultry. Dairy farmers have also reported lower milk production as cattle struggle to eat, move, and rest normally in the extreme temperatures. One dairy farmer near Angers, who manages a herd of around 70 cows, said output had fallen by between 15% and 20%.

What This Means for Poultry Buyers and Traders

France is the European Union's third-largest poultry producer, behind Poland and Spain. In 2024, France produced approximately 1.7 million tonnes of poultry meat, representing around 12% of total EU production.

Poultry has become France's most consumed meat. Per capita consumption reached 31.6 kg in 2024, overtaking pork for the first time. The sector is commercially important both domestically and in the EU supply chain.

Key numbers for buyers and traders to watch:

Brittany and Pays de la Loire = nearly 60% of France's poultry flock
France = approximately 12% of total EU poultry production
Losses described as "hundreds of thousands" of birds, with the final figure still unknown
Dairy output in affected areas: down 15-20% in some herds
Current heatwave conditions expected to persist for several more days

For international buyers sourcing European poultry, this event is worth monitoring closely. Supply from French processors may tighten in the coming weeks as farms assess their losses and replenishment cycles begin. Prices in European poultry markets could see upward pressure, particularly for fresh product from the worst-affected regions.