Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Ammonia and Respiratory Welfare

Ammonia from litter in poultry houses damages respiratory health, eyes and feet, and is one of the most important air quality parameters for assessing poultry welfare.

Key Facts

Ammonia above 10 ppm causes mucosal irritation in poultry respiratory tracts
Chronic exposure above 25 ppm causes structural lung damage and reduced immunity
Broiler eyes show damage from ammonia exposure even at moderate concentrations
Good litter management and ventilation control keep ammonia below welfare thresholds
High ammonia is correlated with other welfare problems including wet litter and footpad lesions

Welfare Considerations

Ammonia is an invisible welfare hazard in poultry houses. Birds exposed to elevated ammonia experience chronic respiratory irritation, reduced lung function and eye damage. These harms accumulate silently over weeks in housed birds. Measuring and managing ammonia as a welfare parameter - rather than just an odour nuisance - is an important shift in poultry welfare management.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards that include ammonia monitoring requirements
Choose chicken products from farms with documented air quality management
Advocate for maximum ammonia exposure limits in poultry welfare regulations