Natural light and appropriate light cycles are important for poultry welfare, with artificial manipulation of light linked to behavioral and health problems.
Light management in poultry production has significant welfare implications that are not always visible to consumers. Conventional broiler house lighting uses very long day lengths and low intensities to maximize feed intake and minimize activity that burns calories. The resulting birds are less active but also show higher rates of leg weakness and behavioral abnormalities. Laying hens with access to natural light or adequate artificial light show better behavioral expression and welfare indicators than those in dim, uniform artificial lighting. Light as an environmental variable receives less welfare attention than space, but its impact on behavior and health is substantial.