Ammonia produced from poultry litter causes eye and respiratory damage in chickens and turkeys, representing a major but largely invisible welfare problem in intensive poultry farming.
Ammonia toxicity in poultry houses causes widespread chronic pain and disease that is largely invisible to consumers. Eye inflammation progresses to corneal ulceration and blindness; respiratory damage predisposes birds to pneumonia. These conditions affect birds throughout their lives in substandard conditions. Effective monitoring, litter management with acidifying agents, adequate ventilation, and appropriate stocking densities can maintain ammonia at safe levels — all achievable with current technology.