Poultry Litter Quality and Welfare

Litter quality in poultry houses directly affects bird welfare through its impact on foot health, air quality, and the ability to perform natural behaviours like dustbathing.

Key Facts

Wet litter causes hock burns, breast blisters, and pododermatitis that are painful and impair mobility
Caked litter generates high ammonia levels causing eye and respiratory damage
Litter quality is assessed through visual scoring systems used in welfare audits
Wood shavings, straw, and paper are the main litter materials used in poultry production
Overstocking, drinker leakage, and poor ventilation are the main causes of wet litter

Welfare Considerations

Poor litter quality is associated with some of the most common welfare problems in poultry production - foot lesions, skin damage, and respiratory irritation that affect millions of birds. The welfare impact of litter quality is cumulative, worsening through the growth cycle if not managed. Good litter quality enables dustbathing behaviour important for psychological welfare and skin health. Litter quality is a welfare indicator that is visible, measurable, and largely preventable.

What You Can Do

Support welfare auditing schemes that include litter quality assessment in poultry farms
Choose chicken products certified under standards requiring minimum litter quality scores
Advocate for stocking density limits that prevent the overcrowding that drives poor litter quality
Support research into litter management practices that maintain quality through production cycles
Raise awareness about litter quality as a basic welfare requirement in poultry production