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

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.