Broiler Chicken Air Quality: Ammonia and Welfare (2026)

Ammonia from poultry litter is a major welfare issue in broiler production, causing eye and respiratory damage in chickens and contributing to foot pad dermatitis in birds exposed to wet, high-ammonia litter.

Key Facts

UK and EU regulations set maximum ammonia levels in poultry houses at 20 ppm as a time-weighted average
Actual levels frequently exceed 50 ppm in poorly managed houses, especially in winter with reduced ventilation
Ammonia concentrations above 25 ppm cause corneal ulceration and permanent eye damage in poultry
Wet litter from high ammonia environments causes severe contact dermatitis and hock burn in sitting birds

Welfare Considerations

Broilers exposed to chronic high ammonia suffer eye damage ranging from lacrimation and cloudiness to severe ulceration and blindness. Birds with eye lesions cannot navigate to feeders and drinkers, causing hunger and dehydration. Hock burn and foot pad dermatitis from wet ammonia-laden litter causes lameness and chronic pain. The combination of lameness, respiratory irritation, and eye damage represents a severe multi-system welfare insult that affects a significant proportion of commercial flocks. Improved litter management, ventilation, and moisture reduction dramatically reduce these harms.

What You Can Do

Advocate for regular air quality monitoring and enforcement in poultry production facilities
Support welfare audit standards that include hock burn, foot pad, and eye scoring
Choose higher-welfare chicken from systems with independently verified air quality management
Encourage retailers to require minimum air quality welfare standards in their poultry supply chains