The Effectiveness of Methyl Bromide in Sterilizing Poultry Litter

ONE of the problems that confronts the poultryman who rears birds on the floor is that of removing old used litter and disinfecting the house, especially the floor, each time a new flock of birds is to be placed in the house. This problem is especially acute if the chickens just removed had been diseased. Many disease organisms which have resistant stages are frequently found in the litter, making it almost a necessity to remove the litter, and disinfecting premises is very difficult especially when the house has a dirt floor. If the grower could destroy all troublesome organisms in the litter without removing it, there would be a decided labor advantage and a saving in the cost of new litter. Although there are several disinfectants which will kill even the most resistant organisms, there are some disadvantages which prevent most of them from being used on a commercial scale …