Cleaning and Disinfecting Backyard Poultry Flock Premises
It is important to thoroughly clean and disinfect between flocks to reduce the risk of spreading disease to a new flock. C&D guidelines are outlined below:
1. Dry Cleaninga. Remove all equipment from the premises (feeders, waterers, etc.)b. Remove all organic material from the premises (litter, manure, dust, feathers, feed, nesting material, etc.)c. Safely dispose of organic material per municipal bylawsd. Scrape and sweep all surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings, nest boxes, etc.)e. If premise has dirt floors, the top 3 cm of soil can be removed and disposed of with the organic material. Litter amendments such as Poultry Litter Treatment (PLT) are recommended prior to placement.
2. Washinga. Wash surfaces with detergent, hot water and a pressure washer per manufacturer’s instructions.b. Soak equipment (feeders, waterers, shovels, buckets etc.) with detergent per manufacturer’s instructions. Scrub to remove all organic material. c. Rinse and allow all surfaces/equipment to dry thoroughly before applying disinfectant, usually about 4 hours.
3. Disinfectinga. Organic material (i.e. feces, dirt, etc.) cannot be disinfected! Ensure surfaces/equipment is clean before applying disinfectant per manufacturer’s directions (ensure proper concentration and contact time).
4. Downtimea. Whenever possible, ensure there is adequate ‘down time’ before placing new birds. A period of at least 3 weeks is recommended after cleaning and disinfecting.