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Protect your poultry farm against Footpad Dermatitis
Footpad dermatitis (FPD) in poultry, also known as pododermatitis, causes sore, inflamed footpads and lesions, affecting mobility. It often stems from damp, unsanitary litter. With chicken paws in high demand globally—particularly for export to Asian markets where they remain a top-tier revenue generator alongside breasts and wings—FPD-damaged paws directly impact Canadian poultry producers through processor downgrades, lost paw value, reduced bird welfare scores, and lower overall growth performance. Preventing FPD through proper ventilation and dry, high-quality bedding is crucial for maintaining flock health and farm productivity.
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What causes Footpad Dermatitis?
The primary factor that drives footpad dermatitis in broiler flocks is damp bedding. Litter moisture levels are influenced by variables such as drinker line calibration, feed formulation, ambient barn temperature and humidity, bedding material and depth, and the flock's gastrointestinal health.
Footpad dermatitis triggers inflammation and lesions on poultry feet and toes, resulting in swelling, discoloration, and tissue thickening. The condition progresses from superficial discoloration to deep skin ulcers, which can ultimately turn into abscesses. Severe cases cause acute pain, lower weight gains, mobility issues, and a higher susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections.
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What are the symptoms of Footpad Dermatitis?
The symptoms of footpad dermatitis are very visual and easy to recognize when inspecting the paws:
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- Visible Lesions and Ulcers
- Thickening of the Skin
- Decreased Growth Rate
- Bleeding or discharge from lesions
- Swelling and Redness
- Lameness or Difficulty Walking
- Behavioral Changes
- Scaly, rough crusted footpads
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How can you protect your flock from Footpad Dermatitis?
Farms that effectively manage moisture preserve optimal paw health and grading. Key variables affecting litter moisture levels include:
- Drinker line maintenance, height, and pressure
- Overall flock health and enteric stability
- Dietary formulation to regulate manure consistency, volume, and wetness
- Internal barn temperature regulation
- Relative humidity control
- Soil and barn floor drainage
- Ventilation rates and airflow distribution
- Bedding selection, quality, and application depth
- Spot remediation of wet or caked litter
How can you prevent Footpad Dermatitis in chickens?
To protect your chickens from Footpad Dermatitis, it is important to follow two key steps. Firstly, ensure you provide a dry and comfortable environment to walk on. Secondly, optimizing their nutrition is crucial for improving their gut health and prevent diarrhea, which can cause wet spots in the litter.:format(webp))
Ensure clean water lines
Clean and disinfect the water lines to prevent spreading disease through the drinking water system. Clean, high quality drinking water reduces pathogen pressure on the animals and helps to prevent watery diarrhea. Maintaining the drinking water system is crucial to prevent leakages which is one of the main causes of wet litter.:format(webp))
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