Chicken Lighting Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Key Facts

Lighting intensity, duration, and spectrum significantly affect poultry behavior and welfare
Dimly lit broiler houses reduce activity and can mask lameness and health problems
Providing a dark period each day allows rest and supports normal circadian rhythms in poultry
Minimum illuminance standards for laying hens and broilers vary across welfare certification schemes
Natural light access or UV provision supports vitamin D synthesis and behavioral welfare in poultry
Colored light environments influence aggression, fear responses, and activity levels in flocks

Welfare Considerations

Lighting in poultry houses is a welfare lever that is often optimized for production rather than animal welfare. Constant dim lighting in broiler houses encourages inactivity that masks lameness but does not address it. Adequate light intensity is essential for normal social behavior, allows visual assessment of pen conditions, and enables birds to navigate their environment. A dark rest period is a welfare requirement for natural circadian regulation. Welfare certification schemes that mandate minimum illuminance and daily dark periods represent meaningful improvements over industry-standard lighting practices.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare certification schemes that mandate minimum light intensity and daily dark periods
Advocate for natural light access or UV provision as a welfare improvement in poultry housing
Engage with retailers about lighting standards in their broiler and laying hen supply chains
Support research into the welfare and behavioral effects of different lighting regimes across poultry species
Raise awareness that poultry lighting is a significant and modifiable welfare determinant