Lighting programs and environmental enrichment in poultry production have substantial welfare impacts, affecting behavior, bone strength, activity levels, and disease incidence.
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in poultry welfare management. Continuous or near-continuous light was historically used to maximize feed intake but causes chronic sleep deprivation and heightened fear responses. Natural light spectra improve bird wellbeing by allowing expression of natural behaviors including dustbathing, foraging, and social interaction. These improvements also reduce production costs through lower mortality and better feed conversion.