Litter management

[Bello Bashir Bello]

Improper litter management can negatively impact poultry health by causing skin and respiratory issues, dehydration, and increased risk of pathogen

Wet litter can cause skin burns, breast blisters, and scabby areas

Litter that is too wet or too dry can cause contact dermatitis Ammonia vapors can irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes, digestive system, and respiratory system

[Jeffery Escobar]

Well said Bello. Inadequate litter management can also cause footpad dermatitis. If the litter is reused and does not receive proper treatment before the next flock of birds, then there is a high likelihood of transmission of pathogens from the previous flock to the next. This potential high pathogenic load in the litter can definitively reduce the growth performance of animals as well as the total production of a poultry house.