Production Management - chickens in commercial chicken house
Updated: June 21, 2022

Our goal is to help Maryland’s poultry industry and growers with general practical knowledge about poultry production practices in order to continue to develop, maintain, and operate economically viable and environmentally responsible poultry operations in the state. 

Need Help? Contact:   

Jon Moyle, Poultry Specialist, jmoyle@umd.edu, 443-754-0539

Jenny Rhodes, Principal Agent, jrhodes@umd.edu, 410-310-0103 

New House Construction

A Guide for Poultry House Construction in Maryland

Steps to complying with regulatory requirements for the construction of a poultry house on Maryland's Eastern Shore.  Poultry House Construction Checklist

Ventilation

Ventilation in a poultry house supplies fresh air that is essential to sustain life. It also helps reduce the extremes of temperature, humidity and air contamination to tolerable limits for confined chickens.

Importance of Ventilation in Poultry Farming

Litter Management

Jordon Gruber of DuPont Animal Health gave a talk on litter Management.  Watch the video: 'Value of Litter Management - Managing Pathogen Load in Poultry Litter"

And from the University of Georgia, a publication:  Three Keys to Litter Moisture Control

Mississippi State University Extension:  Windrow Composting Broiler Litter Between Flocks

Water Management

Is Poor Drinker Management Costing You Fuel Dollars?

By Dennis Brothers, Jess Campbell, Jim Donald and Gene Simpson National Poultry Technology Center, Auburn University

If we do not control litter moisture, ammonia levels can rise and cause multiple problems such as poor bird health, impaired paw quality and overall lowered flock performance.

 

Integrated Pest Management

Pest Management Recommendations for Poultry

Flies, beetles, and mites are often a major concern for commercial poultry operations in the northeastern United States. In this article PennState Extension covers pests, how to physically control them, biological controls, and chemical control, plus how to monitor populations in order to make management decisions.