Using male broilers, the impact on growth, carcass characteristics and occurrence of ascites was tested by manipulating the diurnal temperature and application of canola oil to the litter to remove respirable dust. The temperature fluctuated 3C above the set temperature during the day and 3C below the set nightly temperature, while the control birds were kept at a constant temperature. The oil was applied to the litter every second week at a rate of 1.1 L/m2. . Once the chickens reached 6 weeks of age 30 out of the 150 chickens in the pen were slaughtered and their carcasses weights of the breast muscle, fatpad and hearts were taken. Acites lesions were also scored at this time and the areas of each chamber of the heart. Broilers that had oil applied to the litter gained significantly less weight than those that did not have oil applied to the litter (2 249 vs 2 293g). The various treatments did not result in a difference in fatpad weight, shank length, lung weight and percentage of breast muscle. However, the pectoral muscles were significantly heavier and the right ventricle was heavier in broilers that were exposed to temperature fluctuations. Broilers on the temperature fluctuation treatment had a higher mortality rate of 1.4%. It was concluded that fluctuations in temperature can negatively effect broiler growth, and the impact is more distinct when the litter is coated with excessive amounts of oil.