- ✓Plan water according to heat and distribute it correctly
- ✓Understand why the pH of the water changes how well chlorine works
- ✓Manage the three feeds (starter, grower, finisher) and estimate a flock’s needs
Water follows the heat
A broiler drinks about 1.6 to 2 times the weight of the feed it eats, and much more when it is hot. The table shows that consumption doubles between a house at 26 °C and a house at 37 °C.
| House temperature | Litres of water per 1 kg of feed |
|---|---|
| 20 °C | 2 litres |
| 26 °C | 2.5 litres |
| 37 °C | 5 litres |
Source: Cobb.
A drop in water consumption is often the first sign of a problem: record consumption every day, at the same time, and compare it with the “water per day” column of the growth table (lesson 1 of this track), taking the day’s heat into account.
Distributing water correctly
- Keep the tanks in the shade: warm water makes birds drink less.
- Provide a water reserve for at least 48 hours.
- Nipple drinkers: about 10 to 12 birds per nipple; a bird should never walk more than 3 m to drink.
- Bell drinkers: rim at the height of the birds’ backs, cleaned every day.
- Flush the water lines regularly, at least 3 times a week.
- Have the water analysed at least once a year: it must be fit for human consumption.
Source: Cobb.
Chlorine and water pH
Chlorine disinfects water, but it works much better in slightly acidic water. In water at pH 8, only a small part of the chlorine really disinfects.
| Water pH | Share of chlorine that really disinfects |
|---|---|
| 8.0 | 21% |
| 7.5 | 48% |
| 7.0 | 72% |
| 6.5 | 90% |
| 6.0 | 96% |
Source: Cobb.
In practice: before treating the water, know its pH (the yearly analysis gives it, and so does a small tester). If the water is above 7, chlorine alone gives poor protection; ask the vet or the technician for advice on correcting the pH, without improvising a dose.
The three feeds
Broilers receive three successive feeds: starter, grower and finisher. Crumbs and pellets give better results than mash.
| Period | Feed | Cumulative consumption at end of period |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 14 days | Starter (crumbs) | About 550 g |
| 15 to 28 days | Grower | About 2.15 kg |
| 29 to 42 days | Finisher | About 4.8 kg |
Source: Efficiency Plus (performance objectives).
From these benchmarks: about 0.55 tonne of starter, 1.6 tonnes of grower (2.15 − 0.55) and 2.65 tonnes of finisher (4.8 − 2.15), i.e. about 4.8 tonnes in total. These are benchmarks for very good conditions: track your deliveries and your actual consumption to adjust the next orders.
Distributing feed correctly
- During brooding: feed always available on paper or trays for 7 to 10 days, topped up 3 times a day.
- Feeders at the height of the birds’ backs; never let them run empty.
- Change feed gradually, and keep a sample of each delivery until sale: if there is a problem, it allows the feed to be analysed.
- In strong heat: raise the feeders about 6 hours before the hottest time of day, then feed again when it is cooler.
Source: Cobb.
For the entrepreneur
- ›Invest in a 48-hour water reserve and shaded tanks: warm water costs weight.
- ›Have the water analysed once a year and know its pH before paying for chlorine.
- ›Estimate the flock’s feed by phase and compare actual consumption with the benchmarks every week.
For the technician
- ›Record the water drunk every day at the same time; report any drop.
- ›Flush the lines at least 3 times a week; no bird more than 3 m from a water point.
- ›Keep a sample of each feed delivery until sale; raise the feeders before the hot hours.
The 3 questions to ask your technician this week
- How many litres did the flock drink yesterday, and what was the temperature?
- What is the pH of our water, and when was the analysis done?
- How much feed for this phase is left, and how many days does that cover?
Key points
- •Water per 1 kg of feed: 2 litres at 20 °C, 2.5 litres at 26 °C, 5 litres at 37 °C.
- •48-hour reserve, shaded tanks, 10 to 12 birds per nipple, never more than 3 m to drink.
- •Chlorine is 21% effective at pH 8 and 90% at pH 6.5: know the pH of your water.
- •Three feeds: starter (0–14 days, about 550 g cumulative), grower (up to about 2.15 kg), finisher (up to about 4.8 kg at 42 days).
- •A sample of each delivery kept until sale; feeders raised about 6 hours before the hottest time of day.