Farmed Animals

Poultry Ammonia Exposure Welfare

High ammonia levels in poultry housing cause painful eye, respiratory and skin damage in broiler and laying hen flocks.

Key Facts

Ammonia above 20ppm causes eye and respiratory damage in poultry
Many commercial broiler houses exceed welfare thresholds especially later in the production cycle
Ammonia is produced by microbial breakdown of excreta in litter
Good litter management and ventilation dramatically reduce ammonia levels

Welfare Considerations

Chickens in high-ammonia environments experience chronic ocular and respiratory discomfort. Corneal damage from ammonia exposure causes pain and impaired vision. Ammonia levels in many commercial broiler houses exceed the thresholds at which health effects are documented. This is a largely preventable welfare problem — adequate ventilation, proper litter management and appropriate stocking density control ammonia effectively when prioritized.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken certified to standards with maximum ammonia requirements
Advocate for mandatory ammonia monitoring in commercial poultry housing
Support research into low-ammonia litter management strategies
Ask chicken producers about their ventilation and monitoring protocols