Flock Management
Become completely familiar with your company's grow-out program. If printed copies are available, get one and study it thoroughly.
Cleaning
Some companies require that houses be cleaned out after every brood; others permit reuse of old litter.
Cleaning after Every Brood
Remove all old litter and manure to the extent reasonably possible. Brush or wash cobwebs and dust off walls and ceilings just prior to the clean-out. Ask your flock supervisor about a disinfectant to use on wall, sill and equipment. Spread 2 to 4 inches of clean, dry bedding on the floor. It may be necessary to dust off equipment after cleaning out or after new shavings have been added. Do not use wet, moldy or partially decayed material. The most commonly used bedding is pine shavings, but other materials are available. Check with your flock supervisor for recommendations.
Empty the feed bin by running the auger and collecting any remaining feed into bags or other suitable containers. Then remove the boot plate and clean the boot out. Clean the bin periodically.
Reuse of Old Litter
Litter can be reused if previous broods were relatively free of infectious disease. Remove all wet or caked litter. Sweep down dust and cobwebs. Some companies may require about 1 inch of new bedding to be placed on top of the old, or they may suggest that only the areas where the chicks will be started have new bedding added.
Water Quality
Adequate water quality is an essential component for optimum broiler performance since a chick's body contains approximately 80 percent water at hatching. Poor water quality can adversely affect bird performance. Water is not totally pure, and it contains substances that influence its quality. These substances include bacteria, nitrogen and minerals.
The goal is to provide birds with drinking water that has bacterial content approaching zero; however, it is often difficult to maintain this level. Total bacteria and coliform bacteria concentrations, however, should not exceed 100 and 50 colony-forming units/100 ml of water, respectively. A dead animal falling into a well or feces contamination can lead to an unacceptable amount of bacteria.
Nitrate and nitrite content of water should not exceed 25 and 4 mg/l, respectively. Nitrate is converted into nitrite by microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract. It is a well-established fact that nitrite decreases the bird's oxygen carrying capacity, and high nitrite consumption can result in mortality.
Several minerals are considered to affect water quality. Increased iron (>30 mg/l) and sulfate (>32 mg/l) can produce bad odors and a bitter taste, reducing water consumption. Maximum concentrations for calcium, lead, magnesium and zinc are considered to be 250, 0.2, 125 and 1.50 mg/l, respectively, to maintain optimum broiler performance. Both excessive calcium and sodium concentrations are known to affect production. Calcium content above 180 mg/l causes scaling of equipment. High sodium (>32 mg/l) content is known to increase water consumption, which increases litter moisture.
Waste Management
As previously mentioned, every grower will be faced with removing old litter from broiler houses. Broiler companies place the responsibility to properly dispose of broiler litter and bird mortality on the contract grower. The amount of manure produced annually for each broiler house can be substantial. It is a good rule of thumb to consider that 0.5 pound of litter is produced from every pound of meat produced. For example, a 4-broiler house farm marketing 4-pound broilers could generate approximately 340 tons of manure/year. The clean-out time may occur during the winter when litter is not needed for crop growth. As a result, the poultry grower should have an adequate storage facility for the litter until the spring and summer months.
Several litter-storing methods are available, but the method of choice depends upon length of storage, quantity of litter produced and input cost. Covered stockpile, stockpile with ground liner, and roofed storage structure are the three basic alternatives for litter storage. The primary goals of storing broiler litter are to prevent nutrient runoff and leaching and to minimize insect and odor problems. Estimate the amount of litter produced annually so you can calculate litter storage requirements to determine facility costs. Once these have been estimated, the grower can determine which method of storage is best for his/her operation.
Total flock mortality typically ranges from 5 to 12 percent, and it can vary due to factors such as bird age, bird health, ventilation and season of the year. Growers must implement a disposal method that is environmentally friendly while also being cost effective. Bird disposal methods currently used in Georgia are burial pits, incineration and composting. Burial pit is the preferred choice because it is the most economical. There are advantages for some of the other methods. Incineration is probably the safest biological method, and composting results in a useable end-product for fertilizer.
Georgia poultry growers have assumed a pro-active role in environmental stewardship. Nutrient management plans are being implemented on a voluntary basis. These plans include written records on litter storage, dead bird disposal, litter analyses, litter application rates and timing, equipment calibration, and the amount of litter and compost removed from the farm via sales. These records provide the grower with written documentation on implementation of best management practices. Your local county agent can provide assistance with the implementation of a nutrient management plan for your operation.