Poultry Ammonia Levels and Respiratory Welfare

Ammonia accumulation in poultry housing causes respiratory disease, eye irritation and chronic pain in birds, with ventilation management being the primary welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Ammonia is produced by bacterial breakdown of uric acid in poultry litter and accumulates in poorly ventilated houses
EU welfare regulations set a maximum of 20 ppm ammonia in poultry houses, but levels frequently exceed this
At 25+ ppm, ammonia causes eye irritation and respiratory inflammation observable in bird behaviour
Chronic ammonia exposure damages respiratory epithelium, increasing susceptibility to respiratory pathogens
Ventilation system design, litter management and house monitoring are the primary ammonia control measures
Birds exposed to high ammonia show avoidance behaviour and preference for lower-ammonia areas when given choice

Welfare Considerations

Ammonia exposure causes chronic respiratory discomfort that significantly impairs broiler and laying hen welfare. Birds cannot escape the atmosphere of poorly ventilated houses, meaning high ammonia exposure is continuous and unavoidable. The welfare harm is insidious — it causes chronic low-grade respiratory irritation and inflammation rather than dramatic acute suffering, making it easy to overlook. Proper ventilation management that keeps ammonia below 10 ppm represents a meaningful and achievable welfare improvement in commercial poultry housing.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards that include mandatory ammonia monitoring requirements
Advocate for lower maximum ammonia level regulations in poultry housing
Choose poultry products from farms with documented ventilation management and air quality monitoring
Support research into litter management practices that reduce ammonia production
Encourage poultry producers to invest in ventilation infrastructure that maintains good air quality