Poultry Litter Management and Broiler Welfare

The quality of litter in broiler chicken housing has direct welfare consequences, with wet litter causing painful foot pad dermatitis and hock burns affecting millions of birds.

Key Facts

Foot pad dermatitis affects up to 80% of broiler chickens in poorly managed flocks
Wet litter from high stocking density, inadequate ventilation, or drinker leaks is the primary cause
Foot pad dermatitis scoring is used as a welfare indicator in EU broiler regulations
Hock burns from resting on wet litter cause chronic pain and reduced mobility
Litter quality is influenced by diet, stocking density, ventilation design, and drinker management
Higher-welfare certification schemes typically include mandatory foot pad monitoring and improvement targets

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chickens spend their entire short lives on the litter floor. When litter becomes wet and ammonia-laden, they develop painful chemical burns on feet and hocks that worsen as they grow. The pain from severe foot pad lesions affects movement and feeding behavior. Because birds are slaughtered before conditions become fatal, the welfare impact continues across successive flocks in poorly managed houses without corrective action.

What You Can Do

Choose broiler products carrying higher-welfare certifications with foot pad monitoring requirements
Advocate for mandatory foot pad scoring and stocking density limits in your country's poultry regulations
Support research into litter management systems that maintain dry conditions at high stocking densities
Back the Better Chicken Commitment's requirements for outcome-based welfare monitoring
Reduce chicken consumption or choose higher-welfare alternatives to shift market incentives