Farmed Animals

Broiler Chicken Dark Period Welfare

Providing dark periods to broiler chickens improves sleep, reduces leg disorders, and addresses welfare needs denied in continuous lighting systems.

Key Facts

Many broiler farms use near-continuous lighting to maximize feed consumption and growth
Without adequate dark periods, chickens cannot complete necessary sleep cycles
EU law requires at least 6 hours of darkness per 24-hour period in broiler housing
Continuous light increases incidence of eye disorders and immune dysfunction
Dark periods also reduce fearfulness and improve stress resilience

Welfare Considerations

Light management in broiler facilities is a low-cost intervention with significant welfare benefits. Continuous or near-continuous lighting disrupts circadian rhythms, impairs immune function, and prevents restorative sleep. Chickens deprived of dark periods show higher rates of leg problems, eye disorders, and chronic stress markers. The provision of meaningful dark periods represents minimum standard welfare that should be universally adopted.

What You Can Do

Support retailers and food companies with broiler welfare commitments including light standards
Choose products from farms meeting higher welfare standards with verified dark periods
Advocate for mandatory minimum dark period requirements in your jurisdiction
Encourage farmers to participate in welfare certification programs
Support research on optimal lighting programs for broiler welfare