Broiler Chicken Ammonia and Respiratory Welfare

High ammonia levels in broiler chicken houses cause severe respiratory and eye damage to billions of birds annually in intensive production.

Key Facts

Ammonia from chicken excrement accumulates rapidly in intensive houses
Levels above 25 parts per million cause eye and respiratory irritation
Many commercial houses exceed safe ammonia thresholds regularly
Ammonia exposure is linked to corneal ulcers causing blindness in chickens
Better litter management and ventilation can significantly reduce ammonia levels

Welfare Considerations

Ammonia exposure is a pervasive welfare problem in broiler chicken production that receives insufficient public attention compared to issues like growth-related leg disorders. Billions of chickens breathe air that causes pain and tissue damage to their eyes and airways for their entire short lives. The economic incentive to minimize ventilation costs conflicts directly with welfare. Outcome-based standards that measure actual ammonia levels could drive meaningful improvement across the industry.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes that include ammonia level monitoring
Advocate for mandatory outcome-based air quality standards in poultry welfare law
Ask retailers which suppliers they audit for air quality compliance
Consider reducing consumption from non-certified intensive broiler producers