Wet litter in broiler houses causes footpad dermatitis — a painful condition affecting millions of chickens globally. Litter management is one of the highest-impact welfare interventions in poultry production.
Footpad dermatitis is a painful condition visible in virtually any broiler processing line — dark lesions on the underside of chicken feet caused by ammonia burns from wet litter. Severe cases impair movement and cause chronic pain. The intervention is straightforward: litter management through good ventilation, appropriate drinker systems, and stocking density that prevents moisture accumulation. FPD scoring at slaughter provides an auditable welfare indicator that creates incentives for on-farm management improvement.