Intensive Farming

Chicken Respiratory Disease Welfare

Chronic respiratory disease in poultry is both a major welfare problem and a driver of antibiotic use requiring prevention-based approaches.

Key Facts

Respiratory diseases cause significant mortality and morbidity in broiler and laying hen flocks
Poor ventilation management in poultry houses is the primary predisposing factor
Mycoplasma and Newcastle disease cause endemic respiratory disease in many flocks
Vaccination programs combined with improved ventilation reduce disease burden significantly

Welfare Considerations

Chickens with respiratory disease experience breathing difficulty, reduced feed and water intake, and systemic illness. Chronic subclinical respiratory disease reduces welfare and productivity simultaneously. Poor ventilation causing ammonia accumulation damages respiratory epithelium and predisposes to bacterial infection. Prevention through ventilation management and vaccination has both welfare and production benefits.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards requiring ventilation monitoring
Advocate for ammonia level limits in poultry welfare regulations
Buy certified poultry from producers with disease prevention programs
Back research into respiratory disease prevention in poultry housing