Farmed Animals

Poultry Litter Quality and Broiler Welfare

Litter quality in broiler sheds directly affects welfare — poor litter causes painful contact dermatitis, respiratory disease, and locomotion problems.

Key Facts

Wet, ammonia-laden litter causes hock burns, footpad lesions, and breast blisters in up to 80% of birds in some farms
Hock burn scoring is a mandatory welfare indicator in EU chicken legislation
Good litter management costs relatively little but dramatically reduces bird suffering
High stocking density is the primary driver of poor litter conditions

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chickens spend 99% of their lives on litter, and its quality determines much of their welfare experience. Footpad dermatitis is painful and suppresses natural walking behavior. Ammonia from wet litter damages respiratory tissue and eyes. These conditions are preventable through lower stocking density and better ventilation.

What You Can Do

Choose higher-welfare chicken products from certified schemes with litter standards
Advocate for mandatory hock burn scoring and publication of results
Support reduced stocking density legislation
Reduce or eliminate chicken consumption where welfare standards cannot be verified