| Performance goal: Safe supply of drinking water is provided to meat chickens from drinkers. |
|---|
| Description: Closed-nipple drinker systems are much more water-efficient and hygienic than open ‘bell’ drinker systems, as bell drinkers spill and are easily contaminated. Additionally, the number of birds competing for water per drinker needs to be taken into consideration. |
| Performance criteria: Drinkers provide safe drinking water supply. Use nipple drinkers. |
| Minimum requirements |
| Use nipple drinkers. |
| Install nipple drinkers at the rate of 8–10 birds per nipple. For birds: |
| Birds do not have to travel more than 3m to find water. |
| Pressure is adjusted weekly to adjust the flow rate according to the birds’ growing requirements (as per manufacturer’s recommendations). |
| Best practice options |
| Pressure is adjusted every second day to adjust the flow rate according to the birds’ growing requirements (see Table 23 below). |
| Supplementary drinkers are provided at the rate of 2 per 100 chicks from day old to 7 days. |
| Nipple lines are flushed immediately before placement and twice daily for the first 4 days to ensure the chicks are supplied with cool fresh water. |
Other information
Table 23. Recommended flow rates at different bird ages for meat chickens (reproduced from Ross, 2018)
| Bird age | Effect on water intake |
|---|---|
| 0–7 days old | 20ml/minute |
| 7–21 days old | 60–70ml/minute |
| >21 days old | 70–100ml/minute |
