The following standards herein shall be utilized to promote good fly control practices in accordance with recognized Integrated Pest Management techniques. These shall include physical, biological, and chemical control methods such as those currently recommended in the bulletin “Integrated Management of Pest Flies on Poultry Ranches,” published by the University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences or as set forth in equivalent publications.
(a) Construction and Maintenance.
(1) Structures and equipment for both ground and cage operations shall be constructed so as to facilitate the drying and removal of manure when required, and shall provide drainage of moisture away from all manure.
(2) All watering and cooling systems shall be so installed to prevent backflow and so maintained that they do not overflow, splash, or leak upon manure and feeds.
(3) All waste water shall be disposed of by using a subsurface drainage system or other method that will not result in a nuisance.
(4) All housing operations shall be so designed and maintained to allow adequate ventilation and weather protection by proper spacing, elevation, and roofing designs.
(5) All feed storage facilities shall be designed and maintained so as to prevent fly and rodent development.
(6) Any person or entity proposing to construct or reconstruct a commercial poultry ranch or any building, structure, or enclosure on a commercial poultry ranch shall follow the current guidelines as provided by the University of California Cooperative Extension, or other industry-wide acceptable standards.
(b) Fly Control Through Manure Management.
(1) Drying and Coning Operation. If the commercial poultry ranch owner or operator employs the drying and coning operation method of manure management, the following shall be complied with:
(A) The process shall begin on dry ground or on a pad of dry manure in order to harbor predators and parasites and to provide an absorbent surface for fresh droppings. A deeper pad of dry manure may be necessary if the area beneath the poultry cages is sunk below the levels of the aisles. If necessary, to facilitate drying, broken up fresh droppings shall be stirred or otherwise mixed with the dry pad until a satisfactorily dry condition is attained.
(B) Any system used for watering the poultry shall be maintained so as to prevent water from reaching the manure. System leaks shall be promptly repaired so as not to disrupt the effectiveness of the drying method. When necessary, the watering system shall be changed or upgraded to eliminate future leaks.
(C) All wet spots in the manure created by water leaks or diarrhetic poultry shall be thoroughly removed and replaced with an adequate base of dry material as necessary.
(D) Whenever it becomes necessary to remove the manure from under the cages, a six to eight inch pad of dry manure shall be left to facilitate the drying of the new cones and maintain a habitat for predators and parasites by one of the following methods:
(I) Removing every other row, then pushing half of the manure from the remaining row into the cleaned out row.
(II) Cleaning so as to leave at least six to eight inches of manure in each row.
(III) Cleaning out all manure and replacing it with at least a six to eight inch pad of dry manure from some other source.
(2) Frequent Manure Removal Operation. If the commercial poultry ranch owner or operator employs the frequent manure removal operation method of manure management, the following procedures shall be complied with:
(A) Manure shall be removed frequently enough from under poultry cages to prevent fly larval migration and adult emergence.
(B) Each time manure is removed from under the poultry cages, larvae and pupae shall also be removed in the fringe areas.
(C) Aisles and borders of the poultry houses shall be cleaned of feathers and other debris frequently to eliminate pupation areas for fly larvae.
(c) Manure Disposal.
(1) Raw manure shall not be stockpiled or stored on the ranch premises for more than 15 days.
(2) Any manure removed from under the poultry cages or the premises by any person, shall be processed and/or disposed of in a manner that will not create a fly nuisance.
(3) Manure which is processed on the ranch shall be processed by one of the following means, provided there is sufficient area available for whichever method is selected. Methodology for manure processing and disposal shall be that approved by the Director of DEHS. Obtaining the Director’s approval shall be the responsibility of the operator. Manure shall be:
(A) Placed under a tarp which is properly sealed around the edges or in a fly-tight storage bin to prevent the emergence of adult flies.
(B) Spread thinly and dried and/or disced under in a manner that will not create a fly problem.
(C) Incorporated into an effective decomposition or drying operation so that any larvae or pupae in the manure cannot advance in the life cycle, and such operation be so conducted that dusts, odors, and nuisances to adjacent properties do not occur.
(d) Fly Control of Other Sources on Commercial Poultry Ranches.
(1) Dead Poultry Disposal. Dead poultry shall be removed from the cages at least once a day and immediately disposed of by one of the following methods:
(A) Placed in a fly-tight container or structure for proper off-site removal and removed from the premises at least weekly. Containers shall be kept clean to prevent fly breeding.
(B) Placed in a disposal pit of approved construction similar to that shown in current University of California Cooperative Extension publication, “How to Dispose of Dead Birds,” or as stated in equivalent publications.
(2) Waste Egg Disposal. Waste eggs shall be disposed of by one of the following methods:
(A) Placed daily in the dead bird disposal;
(B) Placed in fly-tight containers or structures and removed from the premises at least weekly.
(3) Feed Management.
(A) Feed storage area shall be kept dry.
(B) Spilled feed from feed troughs shall be immediately removed.
(e) General Ranch Operation.
(1) There shall be sufficient equipment and personnel to implement the manure management program for fly prevention and control.
(2) Whenever necessary, the fly population on the ranch shall be chemically controlled to prevent nuisances. Larviciding shall be kept at a minimum. Appropriate adulticides, including both sprays and baits, may be used to control adult fly populations.
(3) Dropping boards or wires may be used in speeding the drying process and to reduce the expense of pesticides. Excessive accumulations of manure on dropping boards or wires to prevent fly breeding shall be cleaned frequently.
(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)