How to Minimize Litter Caking Issues at the Beginning of a Flock

Lee Baxter Hi to both of you. I’m in Quebec, Canada and I also brood whole house. Our controller use some kind of integrated min ventilation calculator based on inside/outside temperature, inside actual RH and inside RH target. We also have a feature that made possible some manuals adjustments up or down for whatever reason we may encounter during flock. I find the most challenging period to avoir litter caking is around age 17-22 days where I find myself to be sure to keep inside RH around 55% max, after, I can ease a little and be fine with a target of 60-65% until end of flock or thinning at 35-37 days.

I think it’s due to the combination of maximum “biological activity” for relative weight of the birds, total live weight in the barn, relative high water consumption per birds weight, the end of rich second feed formulation (a little over in nutrients specs) and higher water/feed ratio before going on grower feed. If I manage to be “in advance” in my min ventilation setting until that critical moment of the flock, I can wish to see good litter conditions until end of flock.

Hope it helps,

Frederic

Hi, Frederic, this is the same pattern I have found, we stock at 21 birds per m2 so by thinning at 32 days the sheds are very tight.
I’m going to look at early min vent to try and keep humidity down a bit before that stage. I’m at 23 days now, 10500 liters of water going in humidity pushing 65%. Litter is poor already. Just as well I’ve got plenty of shavings!