Clumps of material such as hay and silage may stick to the sides of the channel, especially where excess bedding or feed builds up. These clumps should be cut free. Buildup of solids is not a problem under normal management, though a channel will need to be cleaned if it has not been used for some time. For cleaning ease, the dam on some channels is removable. A broom connected to a hose makes the job easy.
Flies cause little or no problem in gravity-flow systems.
If rat-tailed maggots are present, biodegradable oil, such as mineral oil, may be sprayed on the manure surface to control them. Care should be taken when spraying oil not to inhale the mist. Do not use a sprayer that will atomize the oil into fine particles and avoid spraying around animals. Milk-house wastewater is sometimes directed into the channel to provide extra water. Care must be taken since excessive amounts of milk-house wastewater left in channels within barns can result in odors.