ICAR-CIAE Poultry deep litter mixing equipment

Background

In India, poultry birds are commonly reared under the deep litter system using materials such as paddy husk, sawdust, or wood shavings. During rearing, droppings, feathers, and feed accumulate, requiring regular mixing to maintain litter quality and bird health. This task is mainly performed manually using rakes or hoes to break caked litter and improve aeration. Efficient mechanical devices are very limited for this operation. Therefore, a low-cost manual poultry litter mixing machine was developed to reduce workers’ drudgery.

Technology Details

The present invention provides a solution to the labor-intensive and inefficient manual raking of poultry litter by introducing a manually operated vertical-axis poultry litter stirring and mixing device. The machine cuts, stirs, rakes, and mixes litter to maintain dryness and aeration while reducing lump formation, moisture, and ammonia buildup. It consists of a vertical rotary blade assembly, a gearbox-driven brush system, rubber wheels, and an adjustable ergonomic handle, enabling comfortable push or pull operation and efficient litter management.