Broiler Lighting Welfare Standards

Lighting conditions in broiler chicken farms significantly affect bird health, behaviour and welfare, with improved standards reducing suffering.

Key Facts

Intensive broiler farms historically used near-continuous light to maximise feeding time and growth
Continuous lighting causes eye damage, sleep deprivation and increased fear responses in broilers
The EU Broiler Directive requires at least 6 hours of darkness and 4 hours of light per cycle
Better Practice includes minimum 8 hours darkness with gradual transitions to mimic natural cycles
Natural or full-spectrum lighting reduces fearfulness and improves eye health
Dimmer transitions reduce panic in birds and associated injuries
The Better Chicken Commitment requires minimum 6 hours darkness with higher intensity light periods

Welfare Considerations

Lighting is a fundamental but frequently overlooked aspect of broiler welfare. Inadequate darkness periods impair sleep, eye health and natural behaviours. The good news is that improved lighting standards are practical, low-cost, and have minimal impact on production - making this a high-welfare-return intervention that should be standard across the industry.

What You Can Do

Support the Better Chicken Commitment which includes improved lighting standards
Ask chicken product suppliers about their lighting welfare standards
Choose products from higher-welfare certified schemes including RSPCA Assured
Advocate for minimum 8 hours darkness as a standard welfare requirement