Saife Vetmed Pvt Ltd | Animal Health Care | Veterinary Feed Supplement

Cleaning of Poultry Shed

Cleaning and disinfection are key components of routine biosecurity in poultry farming.Decontamination kills any disease-causing organisms like: viruses, bacteria, parasites and mould that might be present on a farm at the end of a production cycle or after a disease outbreak production cycle . decontamination allows for safe re-population of a farm.

Cleaning +Disinfection= Decontamination

CLEANING : The physical removal of foreign materials like dust, soil and organic material such as: droppings, blood and secretion cleaning is a two step process

Dry cleaning :
Use a broom, brush, shovel, rag or compressed air to remove dust, soil and dry organic material. Dry cleaning should not be used for cleaning poultry houses infected with air-borne diseases such as Avian Influenza or Newcastle as it may cause aerosolization of the virus and increase the risk of spreading the disease.

Wet cleaning :
Using detergent/soap and water soak the area and scrub to remove remaining organic material as well as dirt and grease. For washing, common detergent powder sold for cloth laundering is cheap and effective.Wet cleaning reduces the risk of aerosolization of the virus.

CLEANING PROCEDURE :

A) Primary Cleaning: The actual process begins with primary or initial cleaning. Initial cleaning removes 80% of the dirt by pressure washing. Only water is necessary, soap solution rarely serve any purpose at this stage. Most soap will be neutralised by a large amount of dirt. After the majority of the dirt is washed away, then soap may be useful. Remember to use a filter mask that prevents inhaling the aerosol-mist.

B) Applicaon of Soap: After the primary cleaning, floors, ceilings, walls, and fixtures should be thoroughly treated with detergent or soap, every square millimetre has to be covered by the solution. This is best done at low pressure, through a chemical injector, which should be calibrated carefully to ensure the correct dose. Alternatively, a pre-mixed solution may be made which is then sprayed on at low pressure with the pressure washer. Alternatively, a foam lance may be used. The does not make the soap work better but it helps to ensure that there is total coverage. It is important that the amount of soap is related to the amount of dirt lesser after the primary cleaning. If too much soap is used, it takes a lot of time and water to wash off the excess. If too little soap is used, the dirt will consume it and the soiling will not be dissolved. Remember to leave the soap to work for the necessary amount of time (as recommended on the label) and be aware that in some cases when soap has never been used on concrete flooring before, it may be necessary to treat twice before the floor dirt is completely removed.

C) Clean with pressure washer: When the soap has had time to work (typically 15 min), the soap and dissolved dirt have to be washed away with a pressure washer. Rinsing off the soap is not enough, high- pressure washing is necessary to remove the softened dirt. Make sure that all surfaces, corners and cracks are thoroughly cleaned. Start with the ceiling and systemically work your way from one end to the other. Feel with your fingers to be sure that the last of the greasy film is completely gone. If not, it must be rewashed. If the inside of the feeding pipe has to be cleaned, it may ease the work to use a cleaning head or nozzle which works its way through the pipe with the helps of the water pressure. Remember that working with a pressure washer constitutes a safety risk and regular breaks must be taken to decrease the risk of accident. Always use hearing protection, safety goggles, safety boots, and waterproof clothing of high quality while working with the pressure washer.

D) Rinse at low pressure: Finally, everything has be rinsed with water at low pressure so that residues are removed. Begin in one corner, work your way slowly through the whole building, and wash from the top downwards. The purpose of this part of the process is to wash away all the little splashes that the high-pressure sprayer has spread onto previously cleaned areas. Similarly, the aerosol mist from the high-pressure work contains many small particles that must be rinsed off. Be particularly careful around feeders and drinkers as well with the floor at the exit.

E) Remove puddles and dry: After the final rinse, puddles should be removed with broom or scraper. Remember to empty the drinkers throughly. Disinfection should follow relatively quickly after cleaning when surfaces and fixtures are reasonably dry to maximise the period of activity. The stable is not dry until a piece of clear plastic on the floor no longer forms condensation on the side against the concrete.

F) Cleaning of loose items: Items that have been dismantled, for instance small parts that cannot be cleaned with the pressure washer and should be left to soak in soap solution. Use a tub of appropriate size and measure the correct amount of soap. When subjects have been left to soak for about an hour, test whether the soap still produces foam. If not, more soap concentrate should be added since it means that the dirt has consumed the soap components.

G)Cleaning of the personal room: The staff entry room is an important area since this is one of the primary places where efficient infection prevention is necessary. The room should be divided into an unclean and a clean zone, preferably with a partition wall or at least a small barrier. The sink must be sited for convenient hand washing and hand disinfection before handling work clothes. Remember to change towels every day or, at minimum, three times week. Ideally use disposable paper for hand drying. There should be separate cloths hooks in the unclean zone and in the clean zone. The entry room must be cleaned and disinfected at least once a week or at the least the floor, divider, and the sink should be cleaned. Use a recommended oxidising disinfectant.

H)CLEANING ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS: Electric installations, switches, and lamps are best dusted with a dry cloths, vacuum cleaner or brush and then wipe with a cloth wrung out in the chosen oxidising disinfectant.
I) TESTING AFTER CLEANING:

It is good management practice to check the effect of the cleaning work in the poultry house so that you can be sure that the method and the product used actually work. At least once a year, or whenever one is in doubt, it should be checked to ensure that the work is being performed correctly.