Litter quality in broiler houses directly impacts respiratory health, skin conditions, and overall welfare of millions of chickens raised for meat production.
Broiler chickens spend their entire lives on the same litter bed, making its quality central to their welfare. Wet, ammonia-laden litter burns skin where it contacts the bird, damages respiratory tissue, and causes chronic eye irritation. Birds in poor litter environments show behavioral changes indicating distress and reduced welfare states. Higher stocking densities accelerate litter deterioration, creating a direct tradeoff between production efficiency and animal welfare.