Carotenoids are the most numerous and widespread group of pigments in nature. The carotenoid family includes more than 1100 natural compounds. Carotenoids play important roles in poultry nutrition, including egg yolk and skin pigmentation as well as improving breeder performance. Only xanthophylls with high efficacy of transfer from the feed to the egg yolk are commercialised and found their way to the poultry feed market. In commercial egg production desired egg yolk colour intensity is achieved by using a combination of various (usually, yellow and red) dietary carotenoids. Among many important biological functions of carotenoids, their participation in creating an effective antioxidant defence network and participation in the redox balance maintenance could be of vital importance. Indeed, biological value of direct AO activity of carotenoids associated with scavenging ROS is probably of minor importance. It seems likely that indirect effects of carotenoids on the antioxidant defences via transcription factor regulation, including upregulation of Nrf2 and downregulation of NF-κB, are a driving force of their beneficial effect in avian species in general and in poultry production in particular. Carotenoid protective effects in chicken/avian embryonic development and health maintenance of newly hatched chicks deserve more attention and warrant further investigation.