Farm Animal Welfare

Air Quality in Poultry Houses: Ammonia and Welfare

Poor air quality in intensive poultry units, particularly high ammonia concentrations, causes significant welfare harm through respiratory irritation, eye damage, and footpad lesions.

Key Facts

Ammonia above 25 ppm causes measurable respiratory and ocular damage in poultry
UK law prohibits ammonia levels above 20 ppm but enforcement is inconsistent
Litter quality management is the primary tool for controlling ammonia levels
Broilers and laying hens actively avoid high-ammonia areas in preference tests

Welfare Considerations

Chronic ammonia exposure causes a spectrum of welfare harms from mild ocular irritation at low concentrations to severe respiratory disease and keratoconjunctivitis at higher levels. Birds actively avoid ammonia-contaminated areas, demonstrating aversion; when housing prevents escape, welfare harm is compounded. Effective litter management through appropriate stocking density, ventilation, and litter addition is the most practical mitigation.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards that include air quality monitoring and ammonia limits
Advocate for enforcement of existing ammonia concentration limits in poultry houses
Raise awareness that ammonia is a significant but often invisible welfare problem in intensive poultry