Farmed Animals

Poultry Litter Management and Disease Welfare

Litter quality in broiler chicken houses directly affects bird welfare through ammonia exposure, footpad burns, and disease transmission.

Key Facts

Over 90% of US broiler chickens are raised on litter-covered concrete floors
Wet or contaminated litter causes painful footpad dermatitis affecting most commercial broilers
Ammonia from litter causes respiratory damage and eye problems in confined birds
Good litter management through ventilation and moisture control significantly improves welfare
Footpad dermatitis scoring is now used as a welfare indicator in some audit systems

Welfare Considerations

Footpad dermatitis is so common in intensively housed broilers that it is often normalized as a production reality rather than recognized as a welfare harm. The pain from burned, ulcerated footpads affects walking, feeding, and resting behavior. Litter quality is directly controllable through ventilation, stocking density, and moisture management — making widespread footpad dermatitis an entirely preventable welfare failure.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification requiring footpad dermatitis monitoring and maximum thresholds
Advocate for stocking density limits that allow litter quality to be maintained
Choose chicken from producers with documented litter management programs
Reduce chicken consumption to lower demand for intensive broiler production systems
Support research into litter management best practices for commercial broiler welfare