Poultry Litter Management and Foot Health Welfare

Litter quality in poultry housing directly affects foot health, with wet litter causing painful hock burns and footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens globally.

Key Facts

Footpad dermatitis affects an estimated 50-80 percent of broiler chickens in poorly managed systems
Hock burns from ammonia exposure cause painful skin lesions and ulcers in severe cases
Litter management through ventilation, stocking density control, and drinker management prevents wet litter
UK broiler welfare monitoring includes mandatory footpad scoring at slaughter as a welfare indicator
Higher welfare systems with lower stocking densities typically have better litter quality and foot health
Breed selection also affects footpad health with slower-growing breeds showing lower rates of lesions

Welfare Considerations

Footpad dermatitis is a preventable welfare problem caused by management failures rather than unavoidable production pressures. Wet litter from poor ventilation, high stocking densities, and drinker leaks creates ammonia burns on the feet of billions of chickens. The UK's mandatory footpad scoring system creates accountability and has driven improvements where enforced. Extending such monitoring globally would benefit enormous numbers of birds.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory footpad scoring requirements for poultry welfare monitoring
Advocate for ventilation and stocking density standards that prevent wet litter problems
Choose welfare-certified chicken that requires footpad monitoring as part of certification
Engage with retailers about their poultry supplier litter management requirements
Support research into litter management interventions that protect foot health at scale