Poultry farms deal with daily mortality, plus larger losses at the end of a flock or during disease outbreaks. An on-farm poultry incinerator destroys birds the same day, reducing smell, flies, vermin and the risk of spreading disease.
Common Mistake: Buying the Wrong Size
The UK farming publication Farmers Weekly notes that buying the wrong capacity is a common mistake: an undersized machine gets overfilled, which starves the chamber of air and prevents complete combustion. Size the incinerator to your flock size and mortality – not to the cheapest price.
How to Size a Poultry Incinerator
- Record daily mortality in kg over a typical flock cycle.
- Check peaks – mortality is usually higher in the first week and at the end of the cycle.
- Decide how many hours per day you will run the burner.
- Divide the daily kg by burn hours to get the kg/h capacity.
| Farm size | Typical daily mortality | Suggested model |
|---|---|---|
| Small broiler or layer farm | Up to ~50 kg | SMWI-50 (50–100 kg/h) |
| Medium farm, several houses | 50–150 kg | SMWI-100 (100–150 kg/h) |
| Large integrator site | 150 kg+ | SMWI-200 to SMWI-300 |
Permits and Regulations
Rules vary by country. As an example, in the UK, incinerators with a capacity of up to 50 kg/h are treated differently from larger units, which need local authority approval, and burning animal by-products requires approval from the animal health agency. In the EU, animal by-product rules apply. In many other countries the environmental agency and veterinary authority both need to be consulted. Always check before ordering, and ask us for the documents your authority needs.
Fuel, Burn Time and Ash
- Fuel options: diesel, natural gas or LPG.
- Farmers Weekly reports typical burn cycles of 6–10 hours, depending on load, and ash of about 3–10% of the original weight.
- Fuel use is highest during heat-up; running full, back-to-back batches is the most efficient.
See carcass incinerator fuel and burn time and ash disposal.
Siting
- On a level reinforced concrete base under a roof
- Away from houses, watercourses and combustible materials
- With space around the unit for loading and maintenance
- With a backup power supply if the burner and blower depend on mains power
See siting distance and chimney height.
Size Your Poultry Incinerator
Send your bird type, flock size and daily mortality – we’ll recommend the model and fuel setup.
FAQ
What size incinerator does a broiler farm need?
It depends on daily mortality in kg and how many hours you run the unit. Many small and medium farms start with an SMWI-50 or SMWI-100.
Can I burn litter or feed bags in a poultry incinerator?
Some regulations treat non-animal waste differently from carcasses. Check your local rules before burning mixed waste.
How long does a poultry burn cycle take?
Typically several hours depending on load – Farmers Weekly cites 6–10 hours for poultry machines.
Do I need a permit?
In most countries yes – usually from the environmental agency and the veterinary authority. Rules often depend on capacity.