Karel's Nutrition Blog

a Water intake

• Empowered Nutrition Meal Plans

Water intake of a bird increases with age, although it decreases per unit of body weight. Drinking behaviour is closely associated with feed intake, and so most factors affecting feed intake will indirectly influence water intake. At moderate temperatures, birds will consume almost twice as much water by weight as they eat as feed. Any nutrients that increase mineral excretion by the kidney will influence water intake. For example, salt, or an ingredient high in sodium, will increase water intake.

Similarly, feeding an ingredient high in potassium such as molasses or soybean meal, or calcium/phosphorus sources contaminated with magnesium, will result in increased water intake. Such increases in water intake are of no major concern to the bird itself, but obviously result in increased water excretion and so wetter manure. Table 2.29 indicates average water consumption of various poultry species maintained at 20 or 32°C. These figures indicate approximate water usage values and will vary with the stage of production, health and feed composition. As a generalization, for any bird up to 8 weeks of age, an approximation of water needs can be calculated by multiplying age in days x 6 (e.g. 42 d = 252 ml/d).

In calculating the water needs of egg producing stock, it should be realized that water intake is not constant throughout the day, rather it varies depending upon the stage of egg formation (Fig 2.2). These data clearly show a peak in water consumption immediately following egg laying, and again, at the time just prior to the end of a normal light cycle. This means that water needs must be accommodated during these peak times (around 10 - 11 a.m. and 6 - 8 p.m.) within a 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. light cycle, because most birds will be in the same stage of egg formation as directed by the light program.

Fig. 2.2 Water consumption of laying hens in relation to time of oviposition. (from Mongin and Sauveur, 1974)

Table 2.29 Daily ad-lib water consumption of poultry (litres per 1,000 birds)

		20°C	32°C
Leghorn pullet	4 wk	50	75
	12 wk	115	180
	18 wk	140	200
Laying hen	50% prod.	150	250
	90% prod.	180	300
Non-laying hen		120	200
Broiler breeder pullet	4 wk	75	120
	12 wk	140	220
	18 wk	180	300
Broiler breeder hen	50% prod	180	300
	80% prod	210	360
Broiler chicken	1 wk	24	40
	3 wk	100	190
	6 wk	240	500
	9 wk	300	600
Turkey	1 wk	24	50
	4 wk	110	200
	12 wk	320	600
	18 wk	450	850
Turkey breeder hen		500	900
Turkey breeder tom		500	1100
Duck	1 wk	28	50
	4 wk	120	230
	8 wk	300	600
Duck breeder		240	500
Goose	1 wk	28	50
	4 wk	250	450
	12 wk	350	600
Goose breeder		350	600

These figures indicate approximate water usage values and will vary with the stage of production, health and feed consumption.

These figures indicate approximate water usage values and will vary with the stage of production, health and feed consumption.

The contribution of feed is not usually considered in calculating water balance, yet most feeds will contain around 10% of free water. Other bound water may become available during digestion and metabolism, such that 7 - 8% of total requirements can originate from the feed.

Water is created in the body as a by-product of general metabolism. If fats are broken down, then about 1.2 g of water are produced from each gram of fat. Likewise protein and carbohydrate will yield about 0.6 and 0.5 g per gram respectively. Total metabolic water can be more easily estimated from the bird's energy intake because on average 0.14 g of water is produced for each kcal of energy metabolized. This means that for a laying hen, consuming 280 kcal ME/day, about 39 g of metabolic water will be produced. Feed and metabolic water together therefore account for about 20% of total water needs, and so are very important in the calculation of water balance.

+1 0

Average user rating: 5 stars out of 1 votes