It is important to distinguish between water usage as measured by water meter readings over a specific time and the actual consumption of a flock representing the volume of water actually ingested. The difference between use and consumption is represented…
Simply, birds drink when they are thirsty. The hormonal and neural mechanisms involved in thirst are complicated and involve baroreceptors sensitive to blood pressure and osmoreceptors that respond to changes in the chemical composition of blood. Thirst represents the interpretation…
Water plays a critical role in bird performance. But, how water is delivered makes the difference between acceptable and exceptional results. For the best bird performance, a watering system needs to supply the right amount of water in the way…
Clean drinking water is important for bird, litter and system performance. We all recognize the importance of clean drinking water for good health. Birds are no different. But, watering systems provide a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and biofilm. Even…
Considerable time and resources have been invested to develop watering management tools specifically for enclosed watering systems to help farmers produce healthy flocks and achieve successful performance outcomes. We stress the importance of proper management of watering systems in terms…
Keeping your watering system biofilm-free begins with a regular schedule of high pressure flushing of the drinker lines (click to see “Biofilm: What it is, what it does“). Most watering systems today come with a flushing mechanism that makes drinker…
Water usage is not the same as water consumption. An appreciation and understanding of this important difference is central to effectively managing nipple-type poultry watering systems. Unfortunately, all too many in the poultry industry, including producers, field technical staff and…
In our previous article on consumption vs. usage, we made clear that the amount of water usage (WU) being recorded reflects two things going on in the bird house: water consumption (WC) and water spillage (WS). We noted this to…
How to monitor litter conditions How do you determine if your litter has the right (20 to 25 percent) moisture content? Ziggity’s tried and true litter test involves simply picking up a clump of litter under a watering line and…
An enclosed watering system’s ability to provide a constant, efficient supply of sanitary drinking water is most effective when adhering to a regular flushing schedule. We recommend high-pressure flushing more than once per day, perhaps several times a day if…
