Disinfection foggers for the poultry house — fine fog reaches everywhere
A fogger breaks a disinfectant into a very fine fog that settles on walls, the ceiling and equipment and also hangs in the air. This way disinfection reaches the nooks you cannot wash by hand. We explain how cold ULV fogging differs from thermal fogging, how to match a device to your house, and how to do it safely — always after washing and in an empty building.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
What a fogger is and why to use one
A fogger is a device that breaks a disinfectant liquid into tiny droplets forming a fog. The fog coats surfaces and fills the air, so the product reaches places hard to wash by hand — grilles, ventilation ducts, gaps, the ceiling. This is space disinfection: instead of only spraying the floor, you treat the whole volume of the house. Fogging is part of a wider plan — described in the article on poultry farm biosecurity.
Where and when fogging is used
A fogger is used after thorough washing and drying, in an empty house, in the break between flocks. It is the last stage of preparing the room before placing birds. It does not replace washing — the fog settles on a clean surface, and on a layer of dirt and grease it loses effectiveness. First mechanical cleaning, e.g. with a pressure washer, and only then fogging disinfection.
Why fog reaches where a sprayer does not
The key is droplet size. The finer the fog, the longer the droplets hang in the air and the better they coat uneven, vertical and hidden surfaces. An ordinary spray hits where you aim, while the aerosol from a fogger fills the space and reaches the nooks on its own. That is why fogging complements space disinfection so well — it is sometimes combined with ozone generators as another way to disinfect the air.
A fogger and the rest of house equipment
A fogger is one of the house-hygiene devices, alongside washers and biosecurity gear. It works best when the building is well prepared and the climate under control — humidity and temperature are monitored by climate computers, which makes drying after washing and proper airing after fogging easier. It is worth writing the equipment into the whole farm’s biosecurity plan rather than treating it as a one-off purchase.
Hygiene and records in one place
Disinfection is not only an action but also a record: when, with what and at what concentration. DlaFerm.pl lets you keep a digital Flock Card and flock records in IRZplus, so the history of house preparation and hygiene treatments is at hand at every inspection. You can create a farm account for free.
Fogging for disinfection — how it works in six points
From device types, through the working principle and parameters, to the right technique and its place in the biosecurity plan. Here are six things to understand before you reach for a fogger.
Types: cold ULV and thermal foggers
There are two main types. Cold ULV (ultra low volume — a very small volume of liquid) breaks the product mechanically, without heating, giving a cold fog. A thermal fogger heats a carrier and creates a dense, visible smoke-fog. ULV is more economical and precise, thermal gives a dense, far-reaching cloud but needs caution around heat.
Working principle: breaking liquid into aerosol
A fogger pushes the product through a nozzle under pressure (ULV) or through a hot chamber (thermal), breaking the liquid into millions of tiny droplets — an aerosol. Droplets are measured in micrometres (µm, thousandths of a millimetre). The smaller they are, the longer they hang in the air and the better they coat surfaces. The device turns a litre of liquid into fog that envelops the whole volume.
Key parameters: output and droplet size
When choosing, look at output (how many litres per hour the device atomises) and droplet size (a µm range, often adjustable). For space disinfection a typical fog is a few dozen micrometres — fine, but not as fleeting as for insect control. Jet range and tank capacity also matter, as they decide how fast you can cover a given house.
Where and when: after washing, in an empty building
Fogging is the stage after washing and drying, in an empty house, with no birds. The fog settles on a clean surface — on dirt it loses effectiveness. Start with mechanical cleaning using a pressure washer, let the building dry, and only then fog. It is the final step of preparation before the next placement.
Technique and products: concentration, direction, evenness
The product is matched to the target (bacteria, viruses, fungi) and diluted as per the label — this is no place for guesswork. Fog systematically, leading the jet from the far end of the room towards the exit and directing the fog upwards to cover walls and ceiling evenly. Close the building for the contact time stated by the product maker, then air it thoroughly.
Integration with the biosecurity plan
Fogging does not work in a vacuum — it is a link in the hygiene chain. It is best to write it into the poultry farm biosecurity plan: washing, drying, disinfection, entry control. Air disinfection can be reinforced with ozone generators, and the climate after treatment stabilised with climate computers.
Choice, costs, service and safety of a fogger
A fogger is bought once but used for many cycles — it is worth matching it to the house and servicing it sensibly. Here are six things to watch out for when choosing and in daily use.
Matching it to the house volume
First calculate the building volume (length × width × height, in cubic metres) and pick a device with an output that covers it in a reasonable time. A fogger that is too weak will not produce fog of sufficient range in a large house, while one too strong may be a needless expense in a small one. For very large halls, consider several fogging points rather than one device.
Costs: device, product, energy
The cost consists of the fogger itself, the regularly bought disinfectant and the power (electricity or fuel for thermal). ULV usually uses less liquid for the same area, which lowers the running cost. Calculate the cost per cycle and per whole production year, not just the purchase price — with regular use this makes the biggest difference in the hygiene budget.
Service and nozzle cleaning
The heart of a fogger is the nozzle, which clogs with product residue and deposits — then the fog becomes uneven or the device stops atomising. After each use rinse the system with clean water and clean the nozzle regularly as per the manual. Check filters and seals. Neglected gear means worse fog and a shorter life — simple rinsing after work saves costly repairs.
Safety: protection, airing, no birds
Fogging is always done in an empty house, with no birds and no bystanders. The operator must have protection: a filter mask, goggles, gloves and protective clothing, because inhaling disinfectant fog is harmful. After treatment, air the building thoroughly for the time stated by the product maker before anyone enters without protection or you place a new flock.
Common mistake: fog without prior washing
The most common mistake is fogging a dirty building in the hope the fog will “sort everything out". It does not — the product settles on a layer of dirt and grease and never reaches the surface it should disinfect. The order is one: wash, dry, then fog. Skipping washing is wasted product and a false sense of safety before placement.
When it pays off
A fogger pays off where you regularly prepare the building between flocks and care about space disinfection of hard-to-reach spots. In a small, simple house, careful washing and manual surface disinfection sometimes suffice. At a larger scale and with short breaks between batches, fast, even fogging shortens preparation and slots into the whole biosecurity plan.
Frequently asked questions about disinfection foggers
How does a ULV fogger differ from a thermal one?add
Cold ULV (ultra low volume, a very small volume of liquid) breaks the product mechanically under pressure, without heating, giving a precise, economical cold fog. A thermal fogger heats a carrier and creates a dense, visible, far-reaching cloud but needs caution because of the heat. ULV is more popular for regular house disinfection, while thermal works well for very large spaces.
Does fogging replace washing the house?add
No. Disinfectant fog settles effectively only on a clean, dry surface. On a layer of dirt, litter and grease the product does not reach where it should and loses its action. Always do mechanical cleaning and washing first, e.g. with a pressure washer, then drying, and only at the end disinfection by fogging. Skipping washing means wasted product.
How do I match a fogger to the size of the house?add
Calculate the building volume in cubic metres (length times width times height) and pick a device with an output that covers it in a reasonable time. Also look at jet range and tank capacity. In very large halls it is better to fog from several points than with one device from one spot, so the fog covers the whole space evenly.
Can you fog with birds in the house?add
No. Disinfection fogging is done only in an empty building, with no birds and no bystanders, in the break between flocks. Disinfectant fog is harmful to inhale. The operator must have a filter mask, goggles, gloves and protective clothing, and after treatment the building must be aired thoroughly before entering and before placing a new flock.
What droplet size is right for disinfection?add
Droplet size is measured in micrometres (µm, thousandths of a millimetre). For space disinfection of a house, a fog with droplets of a few dozen micrometres is usually used — fine enough to hang in the air for a long time and coat walls and ceiling, but not as fleeting as for insect control. Many foggers let you adjust the droplet size with a nozzle dial.
How do I look after a fogger so it lasts?add
After each use rinse the system with clean water so product residue does not clog the nozzle or corrode parts. Clean the nozzle regularly and check filters and seals as per the manual. Neglected gear gives uneven fog and breaks down sooner. Simple rinsing after work and periodic nozzle cleaning is the cheapest way to avoid costly repairs.
Prepare the house under control with DlaFerm.pl
Want washing, disinfection and house preparation documented in one place? We will show you how DlaFerm.pl keeps the Flock Card and records so you are ready for an inspection at every placement. Create a free farm account.
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