Poultry Lighting Standards: How Light Management Affects Hen Welfare

Lighting conditions profoundly affect poultry welfare. Science-based lighting standards are improving lives for billions of farmed birds worldwide.

Key Facts

Broiler chickens in intensive systems historically received 23 hours of light per day to maximise feed intake
Continuous or near-continuous lighting causes chronic sleep deprivation and associated welfare costs in poultry
Providing at least 6 hours of darkness per day is now recommended by leading welfare bodies for broilers
Laying hens require appropriate light-dark cycles to regulate circadian rhythms and reproductive health
Natural daylight exposure is associated with improved feather condition, activity levels and bone strength
Spectral composition of light affects foraging behaviour, social interaction, and fear responses in chickens

Welfare Considerations

Lighting management is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools for improving poultry welfare. Inadequate darkness periods cause chronic disruption to circadian rhythms, affecting immune function, behaviour, and psychological state. Progressive welfare standards now mandate minimum dark periods and recommend gradual light transitions rather than abrupt switches that cause panic. Providing natural daylight through windows or access to outdoor areas further enriches the environment. Higher welfare chicken standards including the Better Chicken Commitment now incorporate specific lighting requirements that have demonstrated welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from producers committed to higher welfare lighting and housing standards
Support the Better Chicken Commitment and similar initiatives requiring improved poultry management
Advocate for minimum darkness periods to be made mandatory across all commercial poultry operations
Engage with major food brands to adopt and report on higher welfare poultry sourcing commitments
Support research into optimal lighting parameters for broiler and laying hen welfare