** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY. WITHIN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY, LAYING HENS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HEAT STRESS RESULTING FROM HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES THAN OTHER POULTRY SPECIES DUE TO THEIR LONGER LIFE SPAN. DESPITE HEAT STRESS BEING WELL STUDIED IN SHORT-LIVED MEAT CHICKENS, LITTLE RESEARCH HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON LAYING HENS AND THE PRE-LAY PULLET STAGE. THE PRE-LAY PULLET STAGE SETS A HEN UP FOR EGG LAYING AND RESEARCHERS UNDERSTAND THAT EVENTS DURING THE PULLET STAGE IMPACT THE HEN THROUGHOUT HER 90+ WEEK EGG LAY PERIOD. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INVESTIGATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HEAT STRESS DURING THE PRE-LAY PULLET PHASE ON EGG PRODUCTION TO ENHANCE THE LAYING HEN INDUSTRY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE. TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL, WE PLAN TO PRODUCE EXTENSION MATERIALS FOCUSED ON THE IMPACTS OF HEAT STRESS ON LAYING HENS AND PULLETS AND ON THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THOSE BIRDS TARGETING A RANGE OF AUDIENCES FROM YOUTH TO THE COMMERCIAL POULTRY INDUSTRY. FURTHER WE PLAN TO CONDUCT TWO RESEARCH STUDIES INVESTIGATING THE IMPACTS OF HEAT STRESS ON PULLETS PRE-LAY AND AFTERWARDS DURING THEIR EGG PRODUCTION PERIOD. OUR EXTENSION AND RESEARCH EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN INFORMED MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS HARM AND RESTORE EGG PRODUCTION FOR PRODUCERS.