Ammonia produced by poultry litter causes respiratory irritation, eye damage, and immune suppression in housed birds, with proper ventilation and litter management essential to maintaining acceptable air quality and bird welfare.
Chronic low-level ammonia exposure in poultry houses causes welfare harm that is invisible without measurement - birds adapt behaviorally to the environment they are in, masking the physiological damage occurring. Regular ammonia monitoring with appropriate action thresholds prevents this accumulating welfare harm. High ammonia levels also affect flock immunity, increasing susceptibility to respiratory pathogens and driving antibiotic use - creating a link between environmental welfare management and antibiotic stewardship. Ventilation investment is one of the most cost-effective welfare improvements available for housed poultry, with benefits to both birds and air quality for farm workers.