High ammonia levels in poultry buildings cause painful eye disease in broiler chickens - keratoconjunctivitis is a widespread but preventable welfare problem linked to litter management and ventilation.
Ammonia-induced eye disease in broilers represents a widespread welfare problem that is largely preventable through management. The pain and visual impairment from keratoconjunctivitis affect billions of birds annually in intensive production systems. Birds cannot escape high ammonia concentrations in enclosed buildings, making the welfare harm particularly problematic. Litter management interventions including bedding material choice, drinker management and additional capping reduce ammonia production. Ventilation optimization is critical. Welfare monitoring at slaughter that records eye condition scores provides actionable farm-level feedback. Reducing stocking density directly reduces ammonia production per unit floor area.