Lighting management in poultry houses profoundly affects broiler chicken welfare. Evidence-based lighting programs improve behavior, health, and quality of life for billions of farmed birds.
Lighting manipulation in broiler facilities is used primarily to maximize growth speed at the expense of natural biological rhythms. Continuous or near-continuous lighting prevents chickens from sleeping adequately, causes chronic fatigue, and contributes to leg problems in fast-growing breeds. Research shows that appropriate dark periods improve leg health, reduce lameness, and allow more natural behavior without significantly impacting growth rates. Additionally, natural light access, where feasible through windows or outdoor access, improves broiler welfare through environmental complexity and exercise opportunities. Higher welfare standards such as the Better Chicken Commitment explicitly specify improved lighting requirements.