Diary of a Poultry Farmer: Last step in making an infected poultry house disease-free

A Pakistani truck driver sprays water on a truck loaded with chicken destined to Afghanistan at a service station as a heatwave hit Peshawar. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • We learn better by seeing, hearing, doing and acting the role.
  • Organic matter includes materials such as manure, blood, dust or dirt.
  • To get good results, the quality of the cleaning is just as important as choosing the right disinfectant for the job.
  • Contamination from the chemicals can result from a splash into the eyes or skin.

Last week I narrated the first step in cleaning my infected chicken house to rid infections that gave me hell last year.

At the peak of the attack sometime in December, I had lost about 594 (a 72 per cent death rate) of the stock.

After the first cleaning, I visited the farm and told Cleophas, the farm manager that the next step was to ‘disinfect’ the premises. From the look on his face, he was clearly upset with me.

He blurted out, “I thought I had cleaned up the house as you had instructed.”

To be fair, he had done a good job. You see, he first used a broom and a brush to remove all the dust, soil and organic matter from the walls, ceilings and floor.

He also cleaned the feeders, drinkers and laying cages. “A good cleaning job (dry and wet) will only eliminate 80 per cent of disease agents,” I explained to him.

At this point, I realised the discussion was going nowhere and decided to turn it into one of those seminars I do for farmers.

I used a flip chart and a marker pen to take him through the steps. We learn better by seeing, hearing, doing and acting the role.

I explained that “to improve cleaning, you first remove the dry matter using a brush or broom before washing with a detergent mixed in hot water”.

The reason for this, I said, was to ensure the organic matter doesn’t absorb the disinfectant, making it less effective against the germs.

Organic matter includes materials such as manure, blood, dust or dirt. Because germs hide in the organic matter, any contact with water tends to keep the germs alive longer.

At this point, he smiled wryly as if to say, got you, before posing. “How are soap detergents different from disinfectants?”

USE FACE RESPIRATOR

I explained that disinfectants are chemicals that either slow the growth of disease agents or kill them altogether.

I gave examples like Dettol (halogens), Phenix (phenols), formalin (aldehydes) used to preserve dead bodies and Timsen (ammonium compounds).

Chart showing vaccine administration schedule and biosecurity decontamination.

To get good results, the quality of the cleaning is just as important as choosing the right disinfectant for the job. You should also use the correct dilution ratio during mixing.

Avoid hard water, it affects the mixture.

We had talked for more than an hour when Cleophas mentioned that he had some Kerol in the store, which the vet had recommended the last time. I was obviously delighted.

The first thing we did was to read the product label carefully to confirm the name, active ingredient, mixing ratio and toxicity level.

The vet had cautioned us that “disinfectants are dangerous chemicals that can cause short-term poisoning like skin irritation or long-term damage like cancer or even sudden death”.

Before applying, I asked Cleophas to wear an overall, googles, long PVC rubber gloves and rubber boots.

“Contamination from the chemicals can result from a splash into the eyes or skin.”

Another thing I recalled was that if you are using disinfectants that produce vapours or spray droplets, then dust or biological masks will not help. Instead, only use a face respirator.

After sprinkling the mixture on the floors and walls, he washed his hands and face with soap and water. He then removed the clothing and washed with soap and water before leaving to dry in the sun.

I plan to leave the unit that was disinfected unused for the next three months. I will use the new wing I put up to accommodate the new stock, which I expect as early as next week.

A final word, if in doubt, consult an expert near you.