Farm Animal Welfare

Broiler Chicken Litter Management and Foot Health

The condition of litter in broiler houses directly impacts foot health, with wet litter causing painful footpad dermatitis affecting millions of birds.

Key Facts

Footpad dermatitis affects up to 80% of commercial broilers in some systems
Wet litter results from poor ventilation, high stocking density, and dietary factors
Lesion scoring systems can detect problems early and drive management improvements
Good litter management reduces antibiotic use and improves bird mobility
Some certification schemes require mandatory footpad scoring

Welfare Considerations

Footpad dermatitis causes pain that affects movement, feeding, and social behavior. Birds with severe lesions spend more time lying down, reducing access to feed and water. Preventing litter problems protects welfare at scale across massive populations.

What You Can Do

Support broiler certification schemes requiring footpad scoring
Advocate for mandatory litter quality standards in national codes
Choose chicken from certified welfare schemes with foot health monitoring