water requirement for broiler

Water Requirement For Broiler Chicken

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Water Requirement for Broiler

Water is an important factor for Broiler chicken. As a faster growth within a short time, the water requirement for Broiler chicken is very crucial. The general function of water in broiler and other living organisms is to transport Oxygen, nutrients, drugs vaccines, and other physiologic activities to maintain proper health conditions.

See Also- Broiler Bird Requirement

Standard water Requirement

A broiler will drink approx. 2 liters of water for every kilogram of feed consumed. This means that it takes around 3. 5 liters of water for every kilogram of bird grown, that is if an average lifetime feed conversion of 1. 75 is assumed. When broilers are heat stressed, they increase the consumption of water in an effort to cool down.

water requirement for broiler chicken (collected)

Water quality

Water must be free from infectious pathogens (such as virus, bacteria, fungus, protozoa, etc), heavy metals ( Na, K, iron, P, CA, etc), soil, urine, fecal material, etc. water deprivation may lead to coccidiosis.

See also- Top drugs for coccidiosis treatment

Maintaining Water quality

Following steps must be conducted to ensure standard water quality, hygienic, pathogen-free, dust, and other particles:

Washing drinkers

Wash and disinfect chick drinkers daily. Use a reliable water sanitizer like chlorine to control disease-causing organisms in the water. Ensure the drinkers are filled with fresh water after washing and never allow the drinkers to go dry.

See Also- poultry Management System

Water distribution

Distribute drinkers evenly throughout the whole house, alternating them with the feeders so that they are easily accessible to all birds. The furthest distance to the next waterer or drinker should be 1.5 meters. Provide one chick fount for 75 chicks during the first week and gradually replace them with the regular drinkers. Always adjust the drinkers and feeders levels as the birds grow to ensure that the equipment is always slightly above the level of the birds’ backs to minimize spillage.

See also- Poultry farming Project

Timing of water

It is good practice to supply water at a proper time which depends on session to season.
In summer, The frequency of water supplying with time must be increased due to hot weather conditions. Normally, birds prefer to consume water at room temperature. If the temperature increase, birds will refuse to take water frequently which is causing digestive tract disturbances.

In winter, trying to provide lukewarm water with normal water for better consumption.

It is better to provide the water thrice daily and 5-6 times in the summer season.

See Also- Diseases of broiler and treatment

Water Quality Standards For Broiler Chickens

CriteriaConcentration (ppm)Comments
Total Dissolved
Solids
0-1000Good
1000-2000Satisfactory- possible laxative effect
Over 3000Unacceptable: Mortality, laxative effect, wet droppings, reduced water intake, poor growth
Hardnessless than 100 (soft)Good
Over 100 ( Hard)Satisfactory: Possible interference with the effectiveness of disinfectants  and medications
pH6.5-8.5Acceptable range. May require acid/base treatment outside of this range
SulfatesLess than 300Usually no problem, but levels over 50ppm may have a laxative effect if  magnesium and chloride are high
Over 300Laxative effect
Over 500Laxative effect. May interfere with copper absorption, additive laxative  effect with high chloride
ChlorideLess than 300Not a problem but may exacerbate laxative effect of sodium or sulfate
500Maximum desired level
Over 500Laxative effect, wet droppings, reduced feed intake, increased water consumption
Sodium50-300Acceptable range. May cause loose droppings if sulfates are over 50ppm  and chloride is over 14ppm.
PotassiumLess than 500Generally not a problem, but laxative effect may be additive  with sodium level
Over 500Laxative effect
MagnesiumLess than 200Generally not a problem, but if sulfates are higher than 500ppm there may  be a laxative effect
CalciumOver 200Laxative effect
600Maximum desired level
IronLess than 0.3Acceptable
Over 0.3Unacceptable. Bad taste and smell. Encourages bacterial growth
FluorideOver 40Unacceptable. Causes soft bones.
Nitrate Nitrogen10Maximum acceptable level.

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