Farm Animals

Broiler Chicken Footpad Dermatitis

Footpad dermatitis is one of the most common welfare indicators in broiler production, causing painful lesions linked to poor litter management and fast growth.

Key Facts

Up to 80% of broilers in some countries show footpad lesions at slaughter
Wet litter from poor ventilation and stocking density is the primary cause
Lesions are graded 0-2 at slaughter line inspection in the EU
Severe lesions indicate chronic pain affecting gait and behaviour
Footpad health is a standard welfare audit metric in higher-welfare schemes

Welfare Considerations

Footpad lesions begin as superficial discolouration but progress to ulcers that expose underlying tissue. Affected birds show altered gait and reduced activity, indicating pain. The condition is directly linked to stocking density, litter quality, ventilation, and breed growth rate. Fast-growing breeds produce more moisture in droppings, worsening litter conditions. Slower-growing breeds with better management show markedly lower lesion rates.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken from schemes with footpad health monitoring
Look for higher-welfare chicken labels with litter quality requirements
Support mandatory footpad monitoring and reporting in law
Advocate for stocking density limits linked to lesion scores
Reduce chicken consumption to shift market toward higher welfare