Why Litter Quality Determines Flock Performance
Litter is the environment broilers live on for their entire life. Its condition affects foot pad health, respiratory health, breast quality, ammonia levels, and overall bird comfort. Poor litter management leads to higher mortality, worse FCR, processing downgrades, and welfare audit failures. Despite its importance, litter management is often treated as an afterthought — something to deal with between flocks rather than a daily management priority.
The economic impact of poor litter management is substantial. Foot pad dermatitis caused by wet litter can result in 5–15% of birds being downgraded at processing. Ammonia levels above 25 ppm reduce feed intake and increase FCR by 0.02–0.05 points. On a 20,000-bird house, a 0.03-point FCR penalty costs approximately $500–800 per flock in lost revenue.
Choosing the Right Litter Material
The ideal litter material is absorbent, low in dust, free of mold and contaminants, and locally available at reasonable cost. Each region has its preferred material based on what is available and affordable.
Wood shavings are the most widely used litter material in the US, particularly pine shavings. They have good absorbency, are relatively dust-free, and compost well after use. The main concern with wood shavings is cost and availability — shortages can drive prices up significantly.
Rice hulls are popular in rice-growing regions like Arkansas, Louisiana, and California. They are less absorbent than wood shavings but longer-lasting and less prone to caking. Rice hulls can be dusty and may require more frequent top-dressing between flocks.
Chopped straw is used where cereal grains are grown. It has moderate absorbency but tends to pack down and form a crust more quickly than wood shavings or rice hulls. Straw can also introduce weed seeds and mold spores into the house.
Some growers use built-up litter systems where litter is reused for multiple flocks with only decaking and top-dressing between cycles. Built-up litter can save money on material costs but requires careful moisture and ammonia management. After 6–12 flocks, built-up litter is typically removed and replaced.
Managing Litter Moisture
Target litter moisture is 20–30%. Below 20%, dust becomes a respiratory irritant. Above 30%, bacteria and ammonia production accelerate, and foot pad dermatitis risk increases sharply. Litter moisture above 35% is a serious problem that requires immediate corrective action.
Sources of excess litter moisture include drinker leaks, high house humidity, wet birds from inadequate ventilation, diarrhea from enteric disease, and condensation on cold surfaces. Fixing the source is always better than treating the symptom — a leaking drinker line that saturates litter in one area will produce ammonia and foot pad problems in that location until the leak is repaired and the wet litter is removed.
Litter amendments such as alum (aluminum sulfate) and sodium bisulfate can help control ammonia by lowering litter pH. These are applied between flocks at recommended rates. While amendments are useful tools, they do not replace good ventilation and moisture management during the grow-out period.
In-House Litter Management During Grow-Out
During the flock, litter management consists of daily observation and prompt corrective action when problems arise. Key practices include checking for wet spots under drinker lines and fixing leaks immediately, removing wet litter or adding fresh dry litter to wet areas, monitoring litter condition during each house walkthrough and logging observations, adjusting ventilation to increase moisture removal if litter is becoming tacky or wet, and checking drinker line height and pressure weekly as birds grow.
Litter condition should be recorded as part of daily house checks — dry and friable, slightly tacky, wet in spots, or wet overall. Tracking litter condition across flocks helps identify houses or seasons where moisture management needs more attention.
Between-Flock Litter Management
Between flocks, litter management includes decaking — removing the compacted, wet top layer — using a decaker or skid steer, applying litter amendment to the remaining litter, top-dressing with fresh material as needed, and verifying that heating and ventilation systems are ready for the next flock. In built-up litter systems, total replacement is needed every 6–12 flocks depending on litter quality and bird performance.
Proper litter management between flocks reduces ammonia spikes during brooding, gives chicks a clean dry surface to start on, and sets the environmental conditions needed for a strong first week.