Ulcerative dermatitis dm broiler chickens: the effects of wet litter.

Wet litter induced severe ulceration of the skin of commercial broiler chickens over the plantar surface of the feet, the caudal aspect of the intertarsal joint and over the sternum. In addition constant sitting of the birds resulted in development of breast "busters". Growth rates were also depressed. Reversion of litter conditions to dry resulted in rapid healing of most of the lesions with a compensatory recovery in growth rate.