Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management

QUALITIES OF GOOD LITTER MATERIAL

• It must absorb moisture from droppings quickly.
• It must release moisture and dries up rapidly.
• It must have least tendency to form cakes.
• It must be free from mould growth.
• It must be free from sharp objects and other objectionable materials.
• It must be non-toxic, inert and compressible.
• It should possess good insulating properties and protect chicks from extremes of climate.
• It must be cheap and locally available.
• It must be biodegradable, supply some nutrients to the birds and form a good quality manure later.
• It must have medium particle size, soft and light in weight.
  • Quality of a litter material is tested by picking a hand full of litter material and presses it tightly.
  • A good litter material is the one which breaks up when hand is open and the litter material with more moisture will form a ball in the hand.
  • Too much dried litter material causes dustiness in the farm.