Chicken Litter Management

Chicken Litter

Chicken litter refers to organic or inorganic materials spread on the floor of the farm to absorb the watery part of chicken excrement, keeping the farm dry and free from bad odor. It not only maintains dryness and eliminates odors but also provides comfort to the chickens.

The type of litter that is good for chickens

As chicken litter, sawdust, husk, dry pieces of rice or wheat straw, dry grass, sugarcane bagasse, ash, or sand are used. However, using sawdust or husk as chicken litter is considered the best.

Note: Due to the high dryness of ash or sand, dust can be created in the farm, which may cause respiratory issues in chickens.

Using sand as litter

Using sugarcane bagasse as litter

Using husk as litter

Using sawdust as litter

Regular Litter or Deep Litter?

Litter can be divided into two types based on its thickness:

Regular Litter: When the litter is spread to a thickness of 5 to 7 centimeters or 2 to 3 inches, it is called regular litter. This thickness of litter is commonly used in broiler production.

Deep Litter: When the litter is spread to a thickness of 15 to 23 centimeters or 6 to 9 inches, it is called deep litter. This thickness of litter is typically used for egg-laying chickens.

Poultry Litter Management

• Before spreading the litter, the farm floor must be washed and dried with a disinfectant.

• For young chicks, it is best to use husk, and for broiler chickens, other materials such as straw pieces can be used after two weeks, and for layer chickens, after one month.

• Occasionally, superphosphate should be sprinkled at the rate of 225 grams per 10 cubic feet of floor area to maintain the moisture and quality of the litter.

• On dry days, to prevent dust from the litter, lightly spray water, ensuring the litter does not get wet.

• After spreading the litter, at least for the first two months, coccidiostat medicine should be administered twice a week.