The importance of water is often underestimated. Both quality and availability of the drinking water are of great importance to the performance, development, and health of our birds. However, how do we ensure a sufficient water supply?
A bird consists of approximately 60% water. In fact, water is the most important nutrient and without it, survival time is limited. This is because it plays a key role in the transportation of nutrients, elimination of waste, and maintaining the temperature balance of the chicks.At normal temperatures, birds consume at least twice as much water as feed. The quality of the water offered to broilers depends on several physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Bacteria, molds, minerals and water additives interact in the water source, and within the pipelines and drinkers. These interactions complicate the management necessary to guarantee the best water characteristics for optimum broiler performance.
1) Water temperature:
Ensure that all drinkers are working correctly. Provide fresh and clean water, the temperature should be below 25°C (the ideal temperature is 10 to 14°C). Flush the water system 3 times a day. Supplementary drinkers can be used a rate of 2 per 100 chicks until 7 days.The ideal temperature of the water available to the bird should be around 18-21℃
2) Water quality:
A pH of 6.0 to 6.8 is preferred for broiler production, but birds can tolerate a pH range of 4 to 8. A pH range of greater than 8 could cause reduced water consumption. Alkalinity: Alkalinity is caused by calcium carbonate, bicarbonate or sulfate. Poultry water should be appropriate in terms of total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, salinity, pH, microbial count, etc.
3) Choice of a suitable drinking system:
In chicken farms, usually from 1 to 14 days, a Pan and manual drinkers is used, and then until the end of the period, a nipple drinker is better.
4) Sufficient number of drinking fountains:
For every 75 broilers, one 4-5liter manual pan drinkers One nipple for every 10 to 12 broiler chicken
5) Drinker Height Adjustments:
Drinker line height should be increased as the birds grow. On the day of placement, the drinker line height should be adjusted so that the pin is at the eye level of the bird. Adjust drinker height as birds grow, ensuring they stretch their neck slightly to drink, promoting a comfortable and natural posture.
6) Estimation of daily water consumption of birds:
Drinking water is often used to provide drugs, vaccines, vitamins and electrolytes to broilers. Therefore, it is important to know the amount of water that a broiler consumes in a given day.
–By Agriculturist Md Sahidur Rahman (Poultry Specialist, Farms Operation-Breeder & Commercial (Broilers & layers), Management & Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, MBA(HRM), PGDPM, PGDHRM, AGM-Farms, Kazi Farms Group | Bangladesh Agricultural University Kazi Farms Group Bangladesh)
