Livestock

Broiler Chicken Housing: Ammonia Levels and Welfare 2026

Ammonia from poultry litter in broiler houses causes significant welfare impacts on respiratory health and ocular tissue and requires active ventilation management.

Key Facts

EU law sets a maximum of 20 ppm ammonia in poultry houses for welfare reasons
Ammonia is produced by bacterial decomposition of uric acid in wet litter
Concentrations above 25 ppm cause eye irritation, conjunctivitis and impaired respiratory health
Broilers exposed to high ammonia show reduced feed intake, growth and immune function

Welfare Considerations

Chronic ammonia exposure causes painful conjunctivitis, corneal damage, upper respiratory irritation and increased susceptibility to respiratory pathogens. Welfare priorities include optimising ventilation systems to maintain ammonia below 20 ppm, managing litter moisture through drinker height control, reducing stocking density, and using litter amendments to reduce ammonia production.

What You Can Do

Monitor ammonia levels regularly using calibrated meters in broiler houses
Optimise ventilation design and management to maintain levels below 20 ppm
Manage drinker equipment to prevent litter wetting and excess ammonia generation
Choose higher-welfare certified chicken products from producers with better air quality management