Lighting regimes in broiler houses profoundly affect bird health, welfare, and behavior. Appropriate light intensity, duration, and spectrum improve multiple welfare outcomes.
Broiler lighting management is a powerful lever for welfare improvement. Conventional dim lighting suppresses activity — reducing leg strain was the original rationale — but this creates sedentary birds with poor cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health. Higher light intensities encourage movement, foraging behavior, and play, improving leg strength and reducing lameness. Adequate darkness periods support circadian rhythms and reduce chronic stress. Chickens can see into the ultraviolet spectrum; UV-enriched lighting allows more natural social signaling and reduces fearfulness. Research demonstrates that light programs incorporating adequate intensity, UV, and darkness duration improve multiple welfare indicators without compromising commercial performance. Transitioning to better lighting is a low-cost, high-impact welfare intervention.