Because poultry litter has been used as feed supplement for cattle, there is interest in learning more about any unwanted bacteria present in poultry excreta. The objective of this study was to test for the presence of select bacterial populations in UACH poultry excreta for total aerobes, Salmonella spp., E. coli and coliforms, and Campylobacter spp. Additionally, sodium chlorate and nitroethane were evaluated as bactericidal agents to reduce bacterial concentrations. Approximately 45 kg of poultry excreta were mixed with 16 L of water and distributed equally to 9 buckets. Treatments were sodium chlorate (10 mM concentration), nitroethane (12 mM concentration) and a control. Excreta temperature and pH were measured. Samples were collected at 0, 6 and 24 h and processed for bacteriological enumeration. Enumeration of total aerobes, Salmonella spp., E. coli and coliforms, and Campylobacter spp. were performed with 3M Petrifilm Total Aerobe Count Plates, brilliant green agar supplemented with novobiocin, 3M Petrifilm E.coli/Coliform Count Plates and Campy-Cefex Agar, respectively. Data were analyzed by means of an ANOVA design, with time and treatments as main effects and their interactions. There was found a main effect of time (P < 0.0001) but not treatment or an interaction (P > 0.05) on litter temperature and pH. A main effect of time (P < 0.0001) was observed but treatment and the time x treatment interaction (P > 0.05) for litter temperature and pH was not significant. A main effect of time (P < 0.01) but not treatment or the interaction (P > 0.10) on total aerobes or on Salmonella spp. was observed. A treatment x time interaction (P = 0.05) on E. coli and total coliforms was observed. Campylobacter spp. was present but no effects of treatment or time (P < 0.15) on incidence of culture-positive samples was observed. Campylobacter concentrations were not sufficient across all samples to perform quantitative analysis. In conclusion, modest effects of chlorate and nitroethane treatment were observed on E. coli and total coliforms but not on total aerobes or Salmonella.