Litter quality is one of the most significant determinants of broiler chicken welfare. Understanding how litter affects foot health, behavior, and disease helps advocates and producers prioritize this welfare factor.
Litter quality represents a foundational welfare factor in broiler production that affects millions of birds daily. Foot pad dermatitis from wet litter is painful — affected birds walk less, access feeders and drinkers less efficiently, and show behavioral indicators of discomfort. The ammonia produced by wet litter irritates mucous membranes, causing eye inflammation and respiratory compromise that reduces welfare and increases disease susceptibility. Managing litter quality requires getting the basics right: appropriate ventilation to remove moisture, properly functioning drinkers that do not leak, appropriate stocking density that allows behavioral thermoregulation, and management of bird health to reduce diarrhea. These are achievable improvements that significantly reduce broiler suffering at minimal additional cost.