At Poultry Biosecurity, our goal is to help you be a more productive grower through products and education. So in this blog, we’re focusing on a tedious topic and giving you an actionable way to manage it.
As Peter Drucker said, “What gets measured gets managed.” So let’s manage your poultry house clean out process with a simple checklist.
Pre-Clean Out
Confirm Your Schedule
Be sure to find out when your placement is ahead of time. Often placement is earlier than you expect, so plan ahead. If you’re hiring a crew, schedule them in advance too.
Establish a Backup Plan
Consider securing a backup clean out crew in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Prepare Your Equipment & House
Make sure equipment is out of the way before clean out begins. Ensure no wires, hoses or other hazards are hanging, which would pose a risk to the crew.
Gather Your Tools
Check to see if all necessary equipment is readily available.
Scrape Gravel
Remove gravel from areas near entrances to prevent mixing with litter during removal. Be prepared for spillage of litter!
Inspect the House
Thoroughly walk the house to identify and remove any remaining trash, dead birds, clothes or debris left by the crew.
Prepare for Litter Management
Make sure you know where the litter is going. Is it heading to a field, a shed or a customer? If money is involved for the litter exchange, clarify the payment terms and ensure the crew has the necessary documentation before they begin.
Verify Insurance
Confirm the clean out crew carries adequate insurance for potential damages. You wouldn’t want an electrician working on your property without insurance, would you? The same should go for your clean out crew!
Clean Out Process
Manage Your Pad
Make sure that you or the crew is taking out litter and not part of the pad. Divots can become holes and next thing you know, you’re shaving your pad. So be careful when removing litter!
Protect Wall Integrity
In-walls and side-walls are hard to get to when clearing litter. Remember that if you don’t hit a block with your bucket, it doesn’t mean that you won’t hit a block out. Even hitting the hard pan just right can knock a block out.
Ensure Availability of Shavings
Make sure you have plenty of dry shavings on-site and ready. At the very least, have some litter prepped.
Post-Clean Out
Inspect the House
Walk the house with the crew after clean out to identify any damages and address them promptly.
Take Photos if There are Damages
Capture images of any damage or issues for reference.
Address Problems Promptly
Don’t delay repairs or maintenance before introducing new chicks. It will be much easier to deal with any issues before you have birds.
Spread the Gravel Back Out
That way, you’ll be ready for new bedding, shavings or reused litter!
We know that every house is different, but following these general guidelines can help you have a successful and safe clean out.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments, reach out to me at allen@southlandorganics.com. To stay up to date on our content made just for poultry growers, subscribe to our Poultry Biosecurity YouTube channel.
Written by
Content Manager (Former)
Agricultural content specialist • Poultry industry researcher
Isabella served as Content Manager at Southland Organics, creating educational resources that help farmers understand and implement organic solutions for poultry, turf, and agriculture.
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Founder & CEO
20+ years in organic agriculture • Humate & soil biology specialist
With years of experience in humate deposits and soil biology, Mike brings practical knowledge from the field to every conversation. He founded Southland Organics to create sustainable solutions that work with nature, not against it.
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