Poultry Ammonia Air Quality Welfare

Ammonia accumulation in poultry facilities causes respiratory damage, eye problems, and chronic welfare harm.

Key Facts

Ammonia in commercial poultry sheds can reach 50-100 ppm — far above the welfare threshold of 10-20 ppm
Ammonia causes corneal erosion, respiratory tract damage, and immune suppression in chickens
Broilers spend much of their time lying near litter where ammonia concentrations are highest
Ventilation, litter management, and lower stocking density all reduce ammonia accumulation
The EU sets a maximum of 20 ppm ammonia for poultry housing

Welfare Considerations

Ammonia in poultry housing is a chronic welfare toxin that causes suffering at concentrations widely reached in commercial facilities. Corneal erosion from ammonia exposure causes eye pain and blindness. Respiratory tract damage increases susceptibility to infection and causes breathing difficulty. Broilers lying on litter — which they do for the majority of their time due to leg disorders and fast growth — are particularly exposed to high ground-level ammonia concentrations. The welfare harm is insidious because it is invisible, continuous, and widespread. Ventilation improvements, litter management, and stocking density reduction address the problem but require investment and reduce stocking efficiency.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from farms with verified air quality monitoring and management
Advocate for mandatory ammonia monitoring and maximum concentration standards in all poultry regulations
Support certification schemes that include air quality provisions
Reduce chicken consumption or choose certified higher-welfare products
Support research into cost-effective ammonia reduction strategies for commercial poultry buildings