The quality of litter in poultry houses directly affects respiratory health and footpad welfare for billions of chickens. Understanding litter management reveals a practical, high-impact lever for improving poultry welfare.
Litter management is a deceptively important welfare determinant in poultry production. High ammonia concentrations from poorly managed or wet litter cause chronic respiratory irritation equivalent to humans working without protection in highly polluted environments. Eye inflammation and corneal damage from ammonia cause pain and reduced vision. Wet litter adherent to footpads causes chemical burns that deepen progressively to cause open wounds and secondary bacterial infection. The welfare impact of footpad dermatitis on mobility and pain is documented by preference studies showing affected birds choose analgesic-laced feed. The good news is that litter management is a relatively low-cost welfare intervention with high impact, making it a priority area for practical welfare improvement.