How much can ammonia impact birds’ health and performance?

By Aline Pereira, M.Sc., DVM,

Monogastric Nutritionist
Grand Valley Fortifiers

To ensure that chickens provide quality eggs and meat for consumers and are also profitable for farmers, it is essential that they are healthy. One contributor to overall health is minimal exposure to high levels of ammonia. Therefore, it is important to understand the implications of ammonia on poultry health.

Ammonia is a colourless gas that is formed from the microbial decomposition of uric acid eliminated by birds and irritates the mucous membranes. Birds’ tracheas (windpipe) are covered with a thin layer of cilia that act as a barrier against the entry of foreign particles, such as viruses and bacteria. These cilia also help move inhaled particles back to the beak, allowing them to be swallowed and digested or eliminated. However, when the concentration of ammonia reaches 25 ppm – a level imperceptible to the human sense of smell – some of these cilia are paralyzed, preventing the removal of materials from the trachea. When the concentration of ammonia reaches 50 ppm – a level slightly perceptible to the human sense of smell – these cilia are destroyed, leaving the birds vulnerable to a range of respiratory diseases. This includes conditions such as Infectious Bronchitis, as well as other illnesses resulting from the penetration of E. coli bacteria into the respiratory tract, such as aerosaculitis, pneumonia, pleuropneumonia, and pericarditis. In addition, at this level of ammonia, there is an increased risk of secondary infections after vaccination. If the concentration of ammonia in the environment reaches 100 ppm, there is a reduction in the rate of respiration, impairing the physiological processes, like energy metabolism. Continued exposure to 60 – 200 ppm ammonia levels over five weeks can cause conjunctivitis. This disease can be identified with birds moving to darker corners of the barn, eyelids can be swollen and almost closed, eyes will show signs of rubbing, and also a gray cloudy-looking eye (cornea) can be observed.

Swollen eyelids in a chicken with conjunctivitis
Source: Cornell University

In addition to facilitating the entry of disease-causing microorganisms and causing conjunctivitis, ammonia, being an irritant gas, increases bird stress. Stressed birds reduce their feed consumption and their immunity is compromised, resulting in impaired development and body weight gain, reduced egg production and quality, and delayed onset of egg production up to 15 days. Studies carried out over the last 20 years have consistently shown that ammonia levels of around 50 ppm lead to weight losses of up to 250 g per bird and an 8% increase in FCR. In addition, high-ammonia environments have toxic effects on organs such as the spleen, liver, brain, and intestines. Usually, no clinical signs are observed, but a decline in performance and egg production will be noticed often.

Ammonia Concentration Level

25 ppm

50 ppm

100 ppm

Detected by Humans?

Cannot be detected

Slightly detected

Detected easily

Effect on Birds

Respiratory system cilia paralysis. Foreign particles can be eliminated.

Respiratory system cilia destruction. Birds vulnerable to respiratory diseases. Onset of growth performance reduction, increased feed conversion, and reduced egg production.

Reduction in metabolic processes, like energy metabolism. Clinical signs are visible, performance is heavily compromised and flock uniformity is decreased.

The average emission of ammonia from litter increases as the birds grow, and after the 20th day of life for broilers, the concentration of this gas increases significantly. In the case of birds with compromised gut health, ammonia levels after this age will be even more critical. Gut health disorders that increase water content of manure or any instance of diarrhea will increase ammonia release from the litter.

Although the presence of ammonia in the barn is unavoidable, it is possible to control its levels through litter management, adequate ventilation, and adequate bird density. Adding natural zeolites (clinoptiloite) to the litter helps to retain water and adsorb ammonia from the litter. From a nutritional point of view, the use of mycotoxin inhibitor products in feed, as well as feed additives that improve gut health, are complementary tools for litter and ventilation management. In addition, reducing protein in a diet supplemented with synthetic amino acids is also an auxiliary nutritional strategy.

The combination of a well-balanced diet, litter management, and ventilation is the best strategy for preventing high levels of ammonia in the barn. Always remember that prevention is the best option and the team at Grand Valley Fortifiers are available to help with any aspect of production or nutrition.

This article was written for the Spring 2024 Central & Atlantic Poultry Grist. To read the whole Poultry Grist, click the button below.

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