HOW TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT A POULTRY HOUSE

HOW TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT A POULTRY HOUSE

 The cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses, whether as a standard practice after every flock or a mandatory procedure after an infectious disease outbreak, has common components which need to be followed to achieve success. When a disease outbreak occurs, additional procedures are required to ensure that infectious organisms are not spread to other flocks. Following is a list of needful procedures that when followed in order, will prepare a poultry house for resumption of normal production activities following a disease incident. 

 1.    Depopulate the poultry house.  

 2.    Following removal of flock, close the house in order that nothing is removed or transferred to another location.  

 3.    Spray the premises inside and outside with an adult fly knockdown product. Killing insects within the house helps prevent their dispersion to other susceptible premises and flocks, adjacent houses, or nearby residences. 

  4.    Treat the interior of the house and bedding with an insecticide for litter beetles. It is best to treat the house immediately after the birds are removed and before the beetles migrate deep into the structure. Follow manufacturer label directions and precautions when applying any pesticide or chemical within the poultry house.   

5.    Clean out feeders, hoppers, and feed lines of old feed and discard onto the litter.  

 6.    Blow down the facilities, beginning with the ceiling and rafters. Blow the dust out from electrical motors, wall outlets and switch boxes, etc. When finished, be sure to cover fan motors, switch boxes, outlets and other electrical equipment that can be damaged during the wash down.   

7.    Remove all litter, manure, feed, and feathers for disposal in a safe manner, preferably on the farm by either composting or burial. It is important to do a good job removing litter, manure, and dust from the house as these materials will only decrease the effectiveness of most disinfectants and leave infectious material within the house. Clean up spilled litter and debris from around the house and entry ways after the clean out is complete.   

8.    Completely wash down the entire house structure; ceiling, walls, curtains, fans and equipment with sanitizing detergent from a high-pressure sprayer. For easier cleaning, apply the detergent solution and let the building soak an hour before hitting it again with a high pressure wash. Wash the floor with a phenol-based detergent to remove organic material. Hot water aids in washing effectiveness. Following the wash phase with a high pressure rinse and repeat as needed until a “like new” clean is achieved.  

  9.    Make sure all organic debris has been removed during the cleaning process. Most disinfectants are readily inactivated by the presence of soaps or organic matter, thus making the disinfection process a waste of time and money unless a good job is done in the cleaning stage. YOU CANNOT DISINFECT   DIRT.   10.    When possible, allow surfaces to dry prior to applying disinfectants. At minimum, let the building stand for a few hours to let excess water drain before applying the disinfectant.   

11.    Apply appropriate disinfectant approved for poultry houses. Using one disinfectant for the floor and another for the walls and ceiling will treat the house more effectively. Cresylic acid and phenol-based compounds work well on dirt floors, while quaternary ammonia compounds can be effective on smooth walls and ceiling. Read and follow label directions to apply the compound safely and effectively. Allow the disinfectant to dry completely before proceeding. (Optional: reapply the disinfectant and allow it to dry a second time)   

12.    Once the disinfectant has been applied, air out the building thoroughly.  

 13.    Remove debris, spilled litter, etc., from around the outside of the house and spray disinfectant on the outside curtains, sills, fan shutters, etc. Disinfect all doorways, walks, and drive outs 15 feet from the house with a phenol or cresylic acid-based compound. Be sure to thoroughly disinfect areas outside the house that are coated with dust from the exhaust fans. 

  14.    Clean and disinfect the watering system. Use a cleaning solution recommended by the watering system manufacturer that is best suited for your given system.  

 15.    Apply rodent control products.   

16.    Reapply pesticide products if needed.  

 17.    When possible, it is beneficial to fallow or rest the house for two to three weeks before preparing to resume normal production activities.   

18.    Reinstall any disinfected equipment that was removed during the cleaning process.  

 19.    All loaders, trucks, trailers, spreaders, tractors, hand tools, etc. should be thoroughly disinfected in the same manner used to disinfect the house.