Farm Animals

Broiler Litter Quality and Foot Welfare

The quality of litter in broiler houses directly affects the foot and leg health of billions of chickens, with wet litter causing painful contact dermatitis.

Key Facts

Contact dermatitis affects 30-80% of commercial broilers at slaughter
Wet litter from poor ventilation, drinker management, or high stocking density is the primary cause
Hock burns are assessed at slaughter as a welfare indicator in the UK and EU
RSPCA Assured and the BCC set maximum thresholds for hock burn rates
Dry litter requires adequate ventilation and appropriate drinker management

Welfare Considerations

Foot pad dermatitis and hock burns cause chronic pain that affects movement, feeding, and resting behaviour. Birds with severe lesions spend less time feeding and more time resting due to pain-induced reluctance to move. The welfare impact is cumulative over the bird's commercial lifespan and affects every aspect of daily behaviour. Good litter management is one of the most directly effective welfare interventions available to commercial producers.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory hock burn monitoring and reporting requirements
Choose BCC-certified chicken that sets maximum hock burn thresholds
Advocate for stocking density limits that support better litter quality
Back ventilation standards in broiler housing regulations
Support producer training in litter management as a welfare priority