The Advantages of (Dura-Slat) Plastic Flooring

For any producer (commercial or otherwise), the health and welfare of your animals is a central concern. Chickens are susceptible to a variety of environmental illnesses, due to the presence of their feces and the sanitary conditions of the facility. While traditional flooring has been around for about as long as folks have been raising chickens, the savvy producer needs to maximize bird production in every way. This means, in part, finding ways to reduce the outbreak of disease in the chicken house. While any industry can be slow to change, poultry production innovation is afoot. Literally.

Forward-thinking producers know about the advantages of plastic flooring for poultry in their production facilities. The use of easy-to-clean poultry flooring, hygienic plastic slat flooring can change the entire operation’s approach to manure management flooring and time, and help maintain good bird health in commercial poultry flooring. These flooring sections allow most waste to fall through slats, similar to hog barns, which keep confined spaces cleaner and drier, while not causing stress to the animal’s feet. This flooring option also resists rot and bacteria, making them a smart choice all around.

Clean & Simple

Dura-Slat flooring, a smooth, non-porous poultry flooring system, is high-impact, wear-resistant poultry flooring made from polypropylene that performs better—it won’t rust or deteriorate from water and disinfectant exposure—than alternative traditional poultry flooring like litter, wood slats, wire flooring, etc. Typically, this flooring is raised above the ground with waste falling through the slats, which means animals are much more likely to avoid the parasites commonly found in feces. Because it’s made of plastic, cleaning is much easier with the use of a power washer. It also dries more quickly than traditional flooring which promotes an overall drier environment.

Increased Biosecurity

In young or high-producing birds, chicken house flooring climate is a critical consideration. Many infectious diseases common to layers, for example, are a result of contact with, in part, wet litter and the effects of humidity and moisture in the facility. While optimal humidity in chicken houses can lead to better growth and feed conversion, elevated humidity can lead to disease. An elevated relative humidity in a production facility, or any structure, for that matter, can result in accumulated condensation. Microorganisms flourish in wet, humid environments; in the chicken house, this can mean poor bird health.

Unlike more common wood-slat flooring often used on poultry farms, Dura-Slat’s flooring's plastic technology resists microorganism build-up, which is common when the wood starts to deteriorate with age and use. This flooring is treated to fight the occurrence of Salmonella, E. Coli, Staph, and Pneumonia. Consequently, Dura-Slat flooring can help keep your birds healthier and more comfortable. Additionally, the chances of foot discomfort and bumblefoot can also be mitigated with plastic flooring for poultry which won’t splinter or warp over time.

In one field study, conducted over a year and a half at a commercial North Carolinian farm, the mortality rate in a facility using Dura-Slat plastic flooring was reduced to 6.8 percent compared to a mortality rate of 12.4 percent in a hen house using a wood floor. While the test measured the mortality rate in a single house with a single generation of birds, the numbers are encouraging. Producers will be interested to see if additional study bears similar results long-term. The longer the bird's life, the greater the profit.

Easy to Replace

Plastic flooring like Dura-Slat comes in sections that are easy to secure, connect, and, if needed, replace. If a section is faulty or if a piece of heavy equipment breaks a section, that area can be isolated and replaced with little to no downtime. This is important. Chickens are prone to stress which can result in poor health and lower productivity. Operations that can function normally, with minimal downtime disruption to the birds, will produce the most profits.

A New Standard

While any industry can be slow to change, the benefits of plastic flooring for poultry are being borne out in research and practice. Producers know that any means of improving the welfare of their birds likely means increased productivity and increased profits. Because of its affordability, durability, and advantages in biosecure poultry flooring, we may see plastic slat flooring become the new standard in responsible poultry management.

Looking for other poultry products? Check out our selection of poultry & gamebird products here.

Learn more about how to care for your chicken. Check the following resources: