Ammonia (NH3) in a broiler house is a very bad problem as it causes damage to the lining of the respiratory tract of the birds.
Excessive ammonia can be due to laziness of people that man the buildings. During brooding period when litter is in use: moisture can accumulate from condensation, the bird's 'urine' part of the droppings and from spilled water. When the litter is allowed to cake, or even to become dirty, ammonia is generated. At first it may not be detected by the people inside the building, because they're so used to the smell. But when a visitor not exposed to the smell enters, the characteristic ammonia odor is immediately detected.
As it irritates and damages the bird's respiratory tract, the effects are:
- The birds easily catch infection because of the damage done to their respiratory defenses.
- The birds cannot be uniform in size in weight. Some would not grow; some would, but slower than possible.
- Average daily gain is lower.
- Feed conversion rate is bad, often worse.