Lighting regimes in broiler houses profoundly affect bird behaviour, sleep, health and welfare throughout the production cycle.
Lighting has far-reaching effects on broiler welfare. Near-continuous dim lighting was once standard practice to maximise feed intake and growth, but evidence shows this disrupts circadian rhythms, reduces sleep quality and impairs leg development. Research demonstrates that providing periods of darkness and higher light intensity during active periods reduces leg disorders, improves gait scores and allows more normal behavioural expression. Lighting is thus a low-cost welfare improvement with industry-wide potential.