Chapter 12 - Introduction
Chapter 12 - Introduction
Water is the most important nutrient for poultry. In addition to being a nutrient, water also softens food and carries it through the body, aids in digestion and absorption, and cools the body as it evaporates through the bird’s lungs and air sacs. Water helps remove waste, lubricates joints, is a major component of blood, and a necessary medium for many chemical reactions that help form meat and eggs.
Although water is regarded as the most essential nutrient, it is impossible to state its exact requirement. Under normal conditions, chickens will consume, by weight, approximately twice as much water as food. During periods of extreme heat stress, water requirements may easily quadruple. Table 12.1 indicates the typical quantities of water required for various poultry species and age.
Table 12.1 - Approximate water consumption for poultry (gallons/100 birds/day)
| Type of poultry | Normal ambient temperature (68°F/20°C) | Hot weather (89.6°F/32°C) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average (growing) | Mature birds | Mature birds | |
| Layer pullets | 2.64 | 3.43 | 5.28 |
| Breeder pullets | 3.17 | 4.23 | 6.60 |
| Layer hens | 5.55 | 10.57 | |
| Broiler breeders | 7.93 | 15.85 | |
| Broiler chickens | 4.23 | 6.60 | 13.21 |
| Roaster chickens | 5.28 | 7.93 | 15.85 |
| Broiler turkey | 7.66 | 14.27 | 26.42 |
| Heavy female turkeys | 10.04 | 16.91 | 31.70 |
| Heavy male turkeys | 14.53 | 26.42 | 47.55 |
Adequacy of a water supply is typically evaluated in terms of how many gallons per minute (gpm) it can deliver on a sustained basis. A typical 500-ft broiler house requires about 2 gpm for drinking water, so a 5-house complex would require a 20-gpm water supply, just for drinking water for the broilers. For comparison, a well for a single-family residence is usually judged to be adequate if it can deliver around 4-5 gpm.
Evaporative cooling systems, using either foggers or pads, typically require about 8 gpm per house, which will up the total water requirement per house to 10 gpm. Recirculating pad systems are more efficient in water use than non-recirculating types, in that water not evaporated is ‘recycled’ and not lost. However, with either type system, almost all the water will be evaporated into the air going into the house during peak hot weather demand times, so the design gpm requirement will be the same no matter which type evaporative cooling system is used.
