During brooding and conditioning (day 1 to 29 weeks), the goal of a breeder farm is to produce a healthy, uniform flock that is ready for reproduction. Meeting this goal requires an environment that allows producers to carefully control reproduction and keep birds healthy. This means carefully constructed and well-maintained barns that focus on biosecurity to keep out disease agents.

The success of a pullet flock depends heavily on the precise management of light. Producers utilize covers called light traps and cover any areas within the house that could potentially leak light, such as tunnel fans and inlets, to prevent the introduction of outside light. These covers work well to restrict light; however, they can also restrict air flow. Given that air flow/movement is critical in managing air quality and house temperature, it is key that producers understand how light traps function so they can better control bird light exposure without sacrificing air quality.

As producers work to remove moisture from poultry houses, it’s important to understand that temperature plays a critical role in the amount of water air can hold. Humidity describes how much water is in the air; for example, at 100% RH air is at its maximum water holding capacity, while at 90% RH the air can absorb a little more water. Humidity levels of 40% allow for the air to absorb a significant amount of moisture which can then be removed from the house through ventilation.

Managing moisture levels in poultry houses is a vital part of producers’ efforts to improve performance and minimize a wide range of potential problems.

For growers in the South, September and October can be a tricky time. In this part of the country, the warm weather doesn’t truly let up until November — at which point the temperature tends to drop quickly and drastically.  Though no matter where you grow chickens or turkeys, these tips hold true and it can be tough to ensure air flow efficiency, control dust issues, keep your birds comfortable, and stop power bills from skyrocketing as you transition from summer into fall and winter weather.

Here are some crucial tips for growers to keep in mind as we head into the last few months of the year:

One year ago, the SWASH™ product line was launched with the goal of bringing our lab to your farm in order to offer new and innovative solutions to longstanding challenges. In that time, we have committed to revolutionizing the animal agriculture industry through these carefully formulated liquid products that boost cleanliness levels in poultry and swine houses.

Both SWASHDUST-REPEL™ and SWASHHOUSE™ are products designed to make cleaning routines more effective, efficient, and eco-friendly in poultry and swine facilities.

Since both products save time and water as you wash fans, nest boxes, breeder ramps, farrowing rooms, nurseries and related equipment, the two can be mistaken to serve the same purpose. However, each individual product offers distinct benefits depending on your needs and goals.

Management of light exposure is an important part of pullet rearing.  By regulating the number of hours of light pullets are exposed to each day, a flock is able to be prepared to begin lay in a synchronized manner regardless of time of year or geographic location. Light traps play a key role in controlling the light exposure birds receive as they develop to maturity. Because of their importance, integrators spend a significant amount of time focusing on the maintenance and cleaning of light traps. Light traps have a complex structure and can prove difficult for even the most attentive producer to clean. The honeycomb composition of the equipment allows dust and dirt to accumulate quickly, and this problematic buildup often lingers even after attempts at cleaning.

Last year, we got a clear picture of the impact of SWASH™ products across the United States. By our estimates, more than 329 farms are utilizing SWASHDUST-REPEL™ for a total of 4,789 hours saved when it comes to cleaning-related tasks. Additionally, 1.7 million gallons of water have been preserved on pig and poultry farms. We’re proud of these statistics, and can’t wait to see how they continue to grow throughout 2019. Additionally, we’re excited to learn that SWASH™ products have had a positive global impact, most notably in Australia.

In order to enjoy proper poultry house and ventilation system cleanliness, you need significant manpower. While the task of keeping poultry houses clean will always be a job that requires diligent effort, there are several steps you can take to streamline your process. Here are some tips for making it easier to keep your poultry house and all its systems, clean.