Lighting Conditions for Broiler Chickens: A Hidden Welfare Issue

Lighting programmes in broiler production significantly affect welfare — both through insufficient light and manipulated dark periods.

Key Facts

EU regulations require minimum 8 hours of dark per day for broiler chickens
Continuous lighting was historically used to maximise feeding time and growth rate
Short dark periods cause severe sleep deprivation with physiological consequences
Dimmed light during early rearing can mask injury and illness, reducing veterinary intervention
Natural lighting cycles improve leg health, activity levels, and reduce fear in commercial flocks

Welfare Considerations

Light manipulation in broiler houses has historically prioritised growth over welfare. Continuous or very short dark periods deprive birds of normal circadian rhythms, disrupt sleep, and increase stress. Dimmed lighting reduces the visibility of injuries, making humane monitoring harder. Adequate dark periods, higher light intensities that allow normal vision, and appropriate lighting spectra (broilers have four colour receptors and see ultraviolet) all improve welfare. These are achievable without significant productivity impact.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring minimum 8-hour dark periods for broilers
Advocate for higher minimum light intensity requirements in commercial broiler housing
Choose chicken from farms with higher-welfare lighting standards
Support research into optimal lighting environments for commercial broiler welfare
Raise awareness of lighting as a welfare issue often overlooked in poultry discussions