High ammonia levels in poultry housing cause eye and respiratory damage in birds. Effective ventilation and litter management prevent this welfare harm in commercial poultry systems.
Ammonia welfare in poultry is a quantifiable, preventable harm. Birds at ammonia concentrations above 25 ppm — commonly exceeded in poorly managed houses — develop eye lesions that are both painful and welfare-impacting. The welfare significance is compounded by the fact that ammonia damage is insidious: birds continue eating and moving despite significant respiratory and ocular irritation. Effective ventilation and litter management are the technical solutions — both are understood, achievable, and compatible with commercial production. Certification schemes that require maximum ammonia monitoring and ventilation standards create the accountability that drives implementation. The welfare and worker health alignment makes ammonia management a rare case where multiple constituencies benefit from the same intervention.