Wet litter and perches as risk factors for the development of foot pad dermatitis in floor-housed hens

Abstract

1. An experiment was conducted to determine whether different moisture levels of litter and perches with different hygienic conditions are involved in the manifestation of foot pad dermatitis in White Leghorn layers. 2. Four different treatments were compared: dry litter and dry perches; dry litter and wet perches; wet litter and dry perches; and wet litter and wet perches. Temperature, pH, air humidity and ammonia changes in the pens were monitored. 3. The mean prevalence of foot pad lesions in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 17%, 13%, 49% and 48% respectively. The overall incidence of foot pad lesions in birds reared on dry litter was 38%, and in birds reared on wet litter 92%. 4. When the air temperature was above 20 degrees C, an increasing moisture content in the litter was associated with an increasing incidence of foot pad dermatitis. However, when the air temperature was below 20 degrees C there were no new cases of dermatitis in any of the 4 treatments. There were no significant differences in litter pH or ammonia between the 4 treatments when compared over the whole experiment. 5. Although the incidence of lesions was not significantly affected by the presence of wet perches, the area of the lesions tended to be in groups with wet patches than in groups with dry perches. 6. It is suggested that moisture and temperature are important contributing factors for the occurrence of foot pad dermatitis in laying hens. Wet perches may contribute to the severity of such lesions.

Avaliação de probióticos na dieta de frangos de corte criados em cama nova ou reutilizada

“…Embora não se tenha avaliado a granulometria da cama neste estudo, foi possível verificar visualmente que, à medida que a cama era reutilizada, suas partículas diminuíam, o que pode ter favorecido a menor incidência de lesões de joelho e coxim plantar nas aves. Estes resultados corroboram os obtidos por Wang et al (1993), que compararam a incidência de lesões no coxim plantar de aves criadas sobre camas secas e úmidas e observaram que 38% das aves criadas sobre cama seca apresentaram lesões, enquanto, em cama úmida, a incidência foi de 92%.…”

Foot pad health, plumage condition, integument and claw length of Lohmann Silver laying hens kept in small aviary housing systems, furnished cages and an aviary housing system

“…No impact of body weight could be detected in the further course of the laying period. WANG et al (1998) mentioned a possible relationship between increased body weight and an increasing risk of food pad dermatitis caused by the higher pressure of the hens' feet on the perches. An unexpected result was the comparable good foot pad status in layers from the aviary system.…”

“…As a consequence of damp litter and direct contact to excrements, epidermis of the feet can soften and easily be infiltrated by microorganisms. This can result in local inflammation up to ulceration, known as bumble foot (WANG et al, 1998;KEUTGEN et al, 1999). ELSON and CROXALL (2006) stated that the occurrence of bumble foot was usually associated with poor perch design and poor perch hygiene.…”

“…An important factor influencing the development of foot pad alterations is the housing system (TAUSON and ABRAHAMSSON, 1994;KEUTGEN et al, 1999;WEITZENBÜRGER et al, 2005). Findings in foot pad alterations range from mild hyperkeratotic alterations to inflamed ulcers of the foot, known as bumble foot (WANG et al, 1998). ABRAHAMSSON and TAUSON (1993) described hyperkeratosis as a main alteration in conventional and furnished cages.…”

“…Epithelial lesions, mainly of the sole pad, are often observed in layers kept in free range, on floor or in aviary systems. This is explained by the contact to litter, excrements and the use of perches (KEUTGEN et al, 1999;WANG et al, 1998). Poor plumage condition in laying hens can be caused by infectious diseases, ectoparasites, alimentary deficiencies and feather pecking.…”