Litter quality in broiler houses directly affects foot health, breast condition, and overall welfare of meat chickens, with management practices making significant differences.
Broilers spend their entire lives on litter - its quality directly determines whether they stand and walk comfortably or on painful ulcerated feet. Footpad dermatitis causes chronic pain that reduces activity and alters behavior. The hockburn and breast blisters associated with poor litter are further welfare indicators of birds spending excessive time resting on wet litter due to leg weakness. Improved ventilation, appropriate stocking density, and litter management are complementary interventions addressing a preventable welfare burden.