Poultry Litter Quality and Broiler Welfare

Litter quality in broiler houses directly affects foot health, respiratory function, and skin integrity, making litter management one of the most practical welfare levers in poultry production.

Key Facts

Wet litter is the primary cause of hock burns and footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens
Up to 80% of intensively farmed broilers have some degree of footpad lesions in some systems
Litter moisture is determined by stocking density, ventilation quality, drinker management, and bedding material
Footpad lesion scoring at slaughter is now mandatory in the EU as a welfare monitoring indicator

Welfare Considerations

Litter quality is a frontline welfare indicator in broiler production that reflects the cumulative effect of housing management decisions. Wet litter causes ammonia production that irritates respiratory systems and eye membranes, and causes the contact dermatitis and chemical burns of footpad lesions that affect millions of birds. Management interventions including adequate ventilation, drinker management to reduce spillage, appropriate stocking density, and quality bedding material all contribute to litter quality. Mandatory footpad scoring at slaughter creates an accountability feedback loop from the processing plant back to the farm.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes using footpad lesion scores as outcome indicators
Advocate for mandatory footpad lesion monitoring with farm feedback systems
Choose poultry products from producers with documented low litter welfare problems
Support research into cost-effective litter quality management across different production systems