Ammonia buildup in poorly managed broiler houses causes painful eye and respiratory damage to millions of chickens, and is one of the most prevalent but preventable welfare problems in poultry.
Ammonia-related welfare damage in broiler houses is both common and preventable. Birds in high-ammonia environments experience chronic pain from eye and respiratory inflammation throughout their lives — a welfare failure that affects tens of billions of birds globally each year. The solutions are well-understood: adequate ventilation, proper litter management, and lower stocking densities all reduce ammonia accumulation. Higher-welfare certification schemes with independent monitoring and meaningful consequences for violations are the most effective mechanism for ensuring these standards are met in practice.