Poultry Manure Management And Utilization Problems And Opportunities

Bulletin 804

General Guidelines for Manure Management in Cage Layer Houses

The objectives for manure management in the cage layer house are to minimize odor and insect problems, eliminate water pollution potential, and maximize the potential value of the manure. These objectives can be achieved by limiting the length of time that manure is stored and keeping it as dry as possible. The following guidelines are offered to achieve these two objectives.

1. Manure should accumulate in water-tight areas of poultry houses that cannot be infiltrated by ground or surface water runoff.

2. Flushing of manure with water or other additions of water is to be avoided except in liquid manure handling systems.

   Water leakage from drinking systems or cleaning systems should be prevented by maintenance and repair.

3. Ventilation system should be of adequate capacity and design to maximize water loss by evaporation from manure when environmental conditions permit.

4. Adequate insulation should be present in the roof and walls of poultry houses to maximize the air temperature during winter months and thereby increase its moisture carrying capacity.

5. Salt and other mineral levels in drinking water and poultry rations should be restricted to those actually required for maximum growth and/or egg production performance.

6. Gastrointestinal infections that lead to diarrhea and excessive water consumption by the birds should be avoided by disease prevention measures.

7. Manure should be cleaned out from the poultry house as frequently as possible and whenever the condition of the manure demands action to prevent odor and insect problems. Increases in fly populations that cannot be controlled by larvacides or insecticides must be dealt with by frequent cleaning of the poultry house. Newer European battery cages with manure belts provide a system for daily clean out of manure.

Application of these guidelines should permit keeping moisture levels in manure low enough to avoid significant odor and insect problems when used with other insect control methods.