Litter quality in poultry houses directly affects the respiratory and foot health of birds. Good litter management is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available to poultry producers.
Litter quality has profound effects on poultry welfare. Ammonia damages the respiratory tract and eyes. Wet, caked litter causes painful foot pad lesions that affect mobility and behaviour. These are not inevitable features of poultry production but management outcomes that can be substantially improved through appropriate stocking density, ventilation management, and litter conditioning. Monitoring litter quality and responding rapidly to deterioration is one of the highest-impact daily welfare activities for poultry producers.