Farmed Poultry Lighting Welfare: Impact on Broiler and Layer Health

Lighting conditions in poultry houses profoundly affect welfare through effects on rest, activity, eye health, and behavior. Evidence-based lighting standards make a significant difference.

Key Facts

Conventional broiler houses often use continuous or near-continuous light to maximize feeding
Birds require dark periods for sleep — continuous light causes chronic sleep deprivation
Proper dark periods of at least 6 hours improve broiler leg health and immune function
Natural wavelength lighting reduces feather pecking and improves welfare behaviors
EU regulations require minimum 6-hour dark periods for broilers — enforced variably

Welfare Considerations

Lighting management in poultry houses has significant welfare impacts that are not always visible to consumers or inspectors. Continuous or near-continuous lighting prevents proper sleep, causing chronic fatigue and associated immune suppression. Research shows that providing adequate dark periods improves leg health, reduces mortality, and decreases abnormal behaviors — a welfare win that also has production benefits. Natural spectrum lighting with day-night cycles better meets birds' circadian needs. Compliance with minimum dark period requirements is a welfare baseline, not an optional extra.

What You Can Do

Choose poultry products from farms certified with high welfare lighting standards
Advocate for stronger enforcement of lighting welfare standards in poultry housing
Support higher welfare certifications that specify lighting as a welfare criterion
Reduce poultry consumption or shift to products with documented lighting standards