Poultry farming and its drinking system

Chickens consume water twice the level of feed so maintaining the quality of water is important. There are many factors that can affect the quality of water high magnesium, high nutrients and high sodium, etc, … During the periods of high and low rainfall water should be tested. Chicken can require a certain amount of nutrients through drinking water. Bird intake of water can determine the successful growth.

There are different types of drinking system in poultry farming such as:

Bell drinkers
Nipple drinking
Storage tank and water source

Bell drinking: 16- 20 chick mini drinkers should be provided for 1000 chicks which are of day old to 10 days of age minimum. Once the broiler chicken older the bell type drinkers will be replaced, 70 birds get one bell-type drinker. Drinkers should be placed evenly all over the house so that there wouldn’t be a need for the bird to walk more than 8 feet. Bell drinking should be checked for height at regular intervals. The height of the drinkers is most important as the base is in level with the birds back. It is always important to maintain a proper water level all the time so that they will not be any spillage. Drinker should be washed daily with a recommended dose of sanitizer.

Storage tank and water source:

Water canals bore well and open well is where water is sourced from (river water requires proper treatment and storage). It is also required for an evaporative cooling system. The main storage tank size should be decided by the total requirement of the water for the purposes- cleaning, drinking, foggers, spraying over vehicles, and evaporative cooling.

Storage tank and water source:

Synopsis:

Uncontaminated water should be available all the time for broilers and layers. If any water restriction is designed for broilers and layers it should be applied with caution in the tropics. Ample space should be available for chicken. Water cannot become warmer than the air temperature and it is preferred to be kept below 25 degrees c. The lid of the tanker should be closed. The basic rule is that if a human can consume the water then it can be fed to the chicken.