Monitor water intake for the best results

Managing water in poultry units is a critical job, impacting on bird health, litter quality and running costs. But it is not always an easy task to get right, so attention to detail is essential.

For optimum water usage, farmers must consider water source and quality, drinker systems and their set up, as well as water intake and wastage.

“Water consumption is a key performance indicator – it’s one of the first things to look at in a flock,” says Daniel Parker, a vet at the Slate Hall Veterinary Practice. “It is critical in terms of bird health – water intake is very closely related to feed consumption, and if you see the birds’ consumption suddenly increase or decrease, it’s a very good indicator that bird health isn’t what it should be.”

Most farmers will have water meters, but not all have the capability to weigh feed, instead relying on water intake to calculate feed consumption. “Water consumption will vary according to mineral levels in the feed, the birds’ age and speed of growth. But if you graph the quantity of water consumed for every 1,000 birds, you can easily pick up anomalies.”

Wasting water not only costs money, it has a knock-on effect to litter quality and bird health, he adds. “One of the major factors in keeping sheds functioning right is the balance between water being consumed and eliminated from the shed. If you get a lot of spills from drinkers, or leaky pipes, not only do you have to pay for that water, but you’re adding water to the shed that doesn’t need to be there. The only way to get rid of that is to increase ventilation – it makes environmental management more difficult and can lower litter quality.”

Spillages

Producers should regularly check their sheds for wet litter to indicate leakages from water lines, or spillage from drinkers, says Jo Mettrick, managing director of Lubing UK, the world’s largest supplier of nipple drinkers.

“Water should always be filtered before going into a nipple drinker system and pressure should be set within the parameters set out by the manufacturer. Many producers assume that a water tank 2m from the floor is sufficient, but this gives a pressure significantly lower than the minimum,” he says.

For example, the minimum operating pressure for a Lubing nipple drinker system is 0.3 bar and the maximum is 3 bar. Set the pressure too low and the birds will struggle to consume enough water – too high and you will get leakages. Water filters should be cleaned at least once a week to avoid blockages, and meters calibrated annually to ensure accurate recording.

Drinker systems should always be flushed through well with fresh water prior to first use, after running any product through the line, and with disinfectant at the end of each cycle cleanout, to remove any debris or limescale which may introduce disease or limit water throughput. However, producers should be careful in their choice of water sanitisers, as some acids can erode drinker lines. They should also check water quality, such as pH, hardness, mineral content and biofilms, as this will impact on the efficacy of different sanitation products. “The two most common mistakes made when managing nipple drinkers are incorrect water pressure and incorrect drinker height,” says Mr Mettrick. “The pressure should be kept low during the early stages and increased gradually during the cycle.”

Producers should also consider the line gradient – too shallow and you could get air locks – too great and water pressure will build up; something which can be controlled by installing a slope regulator.

“As long as there is water in the pressure regulator breather tube and the end breather tube, then the birds will almost certainly be able to drink. Too much pressure will result in water spraying rather than flowing out of the nipple when it is activated, which will wet the litter around the drinker line.” If the litter around the nipples is damp, consider reducing the water pressure.

Positioning

The drinker line height is also vitally important. “Many producers have the lines too low because they worry that the birds won’t find the water, particularly when the birds are not uniform in size,” he adds. When the bird is standing at the drinker line it should be reaching – not stretching – for the nipple, with the line of the neck and back at 45-50°. The water will then flow from the nipple straight in to the bird’s mouth.

“If a bird needs to turn its head sideways to activate the nipple, the water will not all be drunk and the result is wet litter.” Drinker lines must therefore be adjusted according to the birds’ age and height.

Bell drinkers have similar considerations – water pressure should be controlled according to manufacturers’ guidelines, and the drinker lip should be kept a little higher than the birds’ backs for easy access. If wet litter develops around the drinker, producers should check water pressure and drinker height, as well as the water level in the bell trough; this should be kept as low as possible to avoid spillage. Bell drinkers must also be emptied and cleaned regularly to avoid dust and pathogen build up, potentially increasing water waste.

Producers may choose to install a water control panel, incorporating a pressure gauge and regulator, filter, water meter with optional computer connection, and a Dosatron medicator, says Mr Mettrick. “By connecting the water meter to the house environmental control system, any fluctuations in water usage will be highlighted and sudden increases due to leaks will raise an alarm.”

Water quality is also important, and depends on the source: mains, borehole or harvested from shed roofs. Borehole or harvested water can slash costs, but it must be done carefully. Shallow boreholes can show an increase in bacteria levels after heavy rainfall, and all boreholes may suffer from taint or residues such as heavy metals, which can affect water consumption and bird health. Producers should test all water annually, and clean header tanks regularly to avoid contamination or blockages.

“You need to make sure you can treat the water properly before use, says Mr Parker. “One of the potential dangers of rainwater harvesting, particularly if you have ridge extraction and dust on the roof, is that you will pick up pathogens from one flock and introduce to the next, regardless of whether you use it for washing out or drinking water.”