Rainy season and the problem of bumblefoot in broiler chickens

Rainy weather and high humidity often go hand in hand. High humidity affects chicken foot pads by making them more susceptible to inflammation and foot pad dermatitis. This condition can negatively impact the meat chicken production industry as it leads to decreased mobility and feeding ability in chickens, affecting their weight gain and overall health. Therefore, it’s important for poultry producers to manage humidity levels and take measures to prevent foot pad issues in order to maintain optimal production outcomes.

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) It refers to the disease marks on the chicken’s foot pads, especially where they come into contact with the floor. In the initial stages, small red spots may appear, which can spread throughout the foot pad and develop into pit wounds. This results in chickens being less able to walk, reduced water and food intake, and consequently, not reaching the target weight. As a result, the selling price decreases in line with the weight and quality of the legs lost.

Causes of foot pad dermatitis

1. Managing Floor Materials: Floor materials that are not of good quality, wet, and soiled are the main cause of footpad dermatitis. Therefore, to prevent footpad damage, it is important to consistently manage the quality of the floor materials.

• Clean, dry, dust-free, and absorbent
• Appropriate quantity sufficient for the area of rearing and bird density
• Adjust water lines and pressure to be suitable for the height and number of birds
• Uniform distribution of light throughout the house
• Proper ventilation to remove excess moisture from the house

2. Nutrition: Good nutrition helps chickens maintain a healthy gut and reduces the risk of wet litter problems.

• Minerals: Maintain balanced levels of sodium and chloride to prevent excessive water intake resulting in watery feces.
• Ensure high-quality protein sources.
• Avoid ingredients with high fiber content.
• Include coccidiostats in the feed program.

3. Intestinal Health: Maintaining intestinal health is crucial for preserving the quality of litter. This can be achieved by ensuring an appropriate environment, implementing thorough biosecurity measures, regularly monitoring flock health, and administering vaccination programs or supplements to enhance the quality of the digestive system. Therefore, during the rainy season, it is advisable to enhance moisture management to prevent deterioration of litter quality and maintain the intestinal health of chickens. Utilizing products such as Shuramy Tech for moisture absorption in poultry houses can prevent excessive wet litter, while supplementing probiotics like BIO-LACTO can improve gut health, reducing instances of diarrhea and ammonia emission effectively.