Why use litter in poultry houses?

There are many benefits of using litter on the floor of poultry houses and brooding / rearing areas. Whilst it is possible to allow droppings to go straight onto the floor of your poultry house, there are several disadvantages in doing this and it is better to provide a layer of litter on the floor. Droppings give off ammonia (which is why it is important to have good ventilation in the house). Using litter helps to absorb moisture from faecal matter which reduces the ammonia in the air that the birds have to breathe. If droppings dry out on the floor of the house, they become very hard to scrape off, making cleaning difficult. Litter, even when packed down and soiled can still be scraped out of the coop with relative ease. Litter provides an insulating layer on the floor which is especially important for young chicks in brooders. It is also good for them to exhibit natural behaviours like scratching and dust bathing.

Litter absorbs moisture from respiration as well as any water that is spilt from drinkers or fountains. It can act as a shock absorber when birds fly down from a perch which potentially can save heavier breeds from having leg problems. Providing a soft surface gives birds like turkeys something to rest on. This prevents breast blisters and stops feacal matter from sticking to and building up on feathers.

There are lots of advantages to using litter, it shouldn't be overlooked by the poultry keeper.