Farm Animals

Farmed Chicken Litter Quality and Footpad Health

How litter management in broiler houses affects footpad dermatitis, a common and painful welfare condition in commercial chickens.

Key Facts

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) affects a significant proportion of broilers in poorly managed litter
FPD causes painful lesions on the footpad that restrict movement and affect welfare
Wet litter from water spillage and high stocking density are primary risk factors
FPD is used as a welfare indicator in EU slaughter surveillance monitoring
Good litter management including ventilation and water system maintenance prevents most FPD

Welfare Considerations

Footpad dermatitis causes chronic pain for affected broilers throughout their production lives. It is largely preventable through good husbandry and litter management. The EU's decision to use it as a slaughterhouse welfare indicator recognizes its prevalence and importance.

What You Can Do

Support broiler welfare standards that include FPD prevalence limits
Advocate for slaughterhouse FPD data to be publicly reported by farm
Choose chicken from certified farms with demonstrated low FPD rates