How Do You Disinfect Your Turkey House?

In general, there is little to be gained in disease prevention by routinely applying disinfectant solutions to poultry buildings, soil, and equipment. However, when infectious disease occurs, the use of a disinfectant may be indicated as suggested in this handbook, recommended by competent authority, or required by regulations.

For example, it sometimes is recommended or required that hatching eggs be fumigated with formaldehyde or dipped in an antibiotic or a quaternary ammonium solution to aid in the control of certain egg-transmitted diseases. When infectious diseases occur, fumigate at frequent intervals the battery brooding rooms, incubators, egg rooms, and all egg and poult equipment that can be tightly closed or placed in a tightly closed room. After thorough cleaning, use formaldehyde gas according to directions of the manufacturer.

All turkey-occupied buildings should be cleaned thoroughly after each brooding, growing, and breeding period. To clean buildings that have solid floors of waterproof material.

Then wash down the house, including all builtin fixtures, with water under pressure. Start with the ceiling or the underside of the roof and remove all dust and dirt, washing it down the drain or out the doors. Wash, rinse, and drain the watering equipment. Scrape the feeders clean of all loose dirt and spoiled or dirty feed. Where practicable, expose all parts of the portable equipment to direct sunshine for several hours. After the cleaning, open up the house to the fresh air and sunshine and leave it vacant for at least 30, preferably 90, days.

In buildings with dirt floors or where water under pressure is not available, take the removable equipment outside and wash or dry clean it and then allow it to remain in the sunshine for at least 3 days. Sweep down, blo\’ out, or remove by vacuum as much dust and cobwebs as possible, preferably with a portable steam-cleaning unit with a detergent.

Then clean out all litter and dirt. If infectious disease has been a problem, spray the cleaned house, including the dirt floors, thoroughly with a cresylic disinfectant recommended and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or with some other recommended product.

Finally, open up the house and leave it vacant for at least 30, preferably 90, days.

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