Lighting schedules in broiler houses significantly affect welfare. Appropriate light programs provide rest periods, support natural behavior, and reduce health problems.
Lighting management in commercial broiler houses has significant welfare implications that are often invisible to consumers. Extended photoperiods — keeping lights on for 20 to 23 hours to maximize feeding time — were historically common and caused sleep deprivation, cardiovascular stress, and abnormal behavioral development. EU legislation requiring minimum darkness periods has improved the situation, but variation in lighting practice remains wide. Research shows that more naturalistic lighting programs including brighter day periods and darker night periods improve leg health, support circadian rhythm development, and allow more normal behavioral expression. These improvements come at minimal production cost and represent a relatively straightforward welfare intervention.