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What else are you cultivating on placement day? Day old broiler chick gut health

  • Writer: Neal Hughes
    Neal Hughes
  • Jul 22
  • 2 min read

This week, I took a practical look at airborne microbial pressure in a broiler house.

The house had a full clean-down, disinfection, and formaldehyde fogging, standard practice for this farm before placement.

broiler gut challenges test
Enviro Spore Agar test kit

I exposed simple agar plates (MacConkey and XLD) to the air for just 10 minutes, then sealed and incubated them directly in the shed at chick-brooding temperature for 3 days. The results were eye-opening.


airborne bacteria in a poultry house
Strong bacterial growth after 3 days.


MacConkey Agar Plate (Photo 1):

e.coli in a broiler house
Airborne Coliform Load in Broiler House: MacConkey Plate After 3 Days


MacConkey Agar Plate

  • Thick, heavy growth indicates Enterococcus and E.coli, two key early colonisers in poultry houses.

  • E.coli (coliforms): Rapid colonisation can stress the chick gut, increase inflammation, and lead to long-term gut-health challenges.

  • Enterococcus: Tough bacteria that survive disinfectants, causing potential early gut disruption and health risks.



XLD Agar Plate (Photos 2 & 3):

pathogenic bacteria in a clean poultry house
XLD Agar After 3 Days: Diverse Enteric and Fungal Growth

salmonella type bacteria and e.coli challenges in a poultry house
 Detailed view showing sugar-fermenting enterics (red/pink), potential spore-formers (cream colonies), and clear fungal intrusion — all present after just 10 minutes' exposure in a cleaned shed.

XLD Agar Plate.

  • Clear signs of Salmonella-type bacteria: Red colonies indicating potential Salmonella presence.

  • Enteric bacterium (E. coli or Enterobacter): Common gut bacteria that can affect gut function if dominant.

  • Creamy, raised colonies (left side): Likely environmental bacteria, possibly Enterococcus. These colonies appear to be strong spore-forming.

  • White fungal growth (Aspergillus): Highlights the diverse microbial environment chicks face immediately upon arrival. Fungal spores are common in poultry houses and bedding.



Why this matters:

Enterococcus, E. coli, and Salmonella can dominate a chick’s gut rapidly, creating ongoing health challenges, pressures on FCR, higher mortality, and lower performance.


The microbes present at day one heavily shape the flock’s lifetime performance, antibiotic use, and welfare.



Even "clean" houses present invisible but significant microbial loads to the broiler chick's gut health.

Early awareness can significantly influence health management and flock outcomes.



I’m launching a straightforward DIY test kit for broiler growers (4 agar plates, simple instructions, no lab required, just incubate in-shed). Message me directly for more details.


These results provide a simple visual guide to the types of bacteria and fungi present in your poultry house environment. While useful for early awareness and management decisions, they do not replace formal diagnostic testing. For accurate identification, interpretation, or if pathogenic species are suspected, always consult your vet.



 
 
 

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