Hock burn and footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens are direct welfare indicators linked to litter quality, with prevalence reflecting the overall management standard of broiler production.
Hock burn welfare in broiler chickens represents one of the most practically measurable welfare indicators in poultry production. The condition develops when broilers spend extended periods sitting on wet litter - normal behaviour for heavier fast-growing birds - and the ammonia and moisture in soiled litter causes chemical dermatitis of the skin covering the hock joint. The resulting lesions cause pain that is reflected in gait scoring: birds with hock burn walk less, access feeders and drinkers less frequently, and have impaired overall welfare in the final weeks of their lives. The welfare significance of hock burn is not only in the lesion itself but in what it indicates about overall litter management and stocking density. High hock burn prevalence signals overcrowded, poorly ventilated housing with inadequate litter management - conditions that compromise welfare across multiple dimensions simultaneously. The UK's mandatory abattoir hock burn scoring system, which feeds back to individual farms, creates accountability that has driven welfare improvement in some cases. However, enforcement of improvement plans and the welfare standards required before farms face consequences remain areas where regulatory ambition could be strengthened.