Water quality is critical to bird health and remains an area that is often overlooked. The water supplied to your birds must be clean and palatable. If you allow birds to drink water with a high level of contamination, there’s a likelihood that you will see poor gut health, immunosuppression and an increased risk of digestive tract disease.
All sources of water, whether borehole, mains, or a combination of these, can be or can become contaminated. Bacteria can develop quickly and thrive in slow-flowing, warm or stagnant water – something we see on sites especially in open floor drinkers.
Regular water testing is a useful tool to keep track of water hygiene levels. Sampling water is an easy process which can be done by ordering a water sampling kit from St David’s dispensary at dispensary@stdavids-vets.co.uk
It is recommended that water testing is carried out before the birds arrive and a week after the first batch has arrived. Samples should be taken from the water source, the water storage (header tanks, etc.) and drinker lines or bell drinkers. Sampling at these different points will help to pinpoint where any potential problem might be.
For best results when testing drinkers, the sample needs to be taken mid-stream at the point of delivery. For example, if you are using nipple drinkers, screw off the end and allow the water to flow out for 15-30 seconds before collecting the sample.
The lines must be thoroughly cleaned before the chicks arrive; if bacteria is present in the lines, the contaminated water will be consumed by the birds, which can cause health issues.
Poorly prepared and cleaned drinkers can contribute to the level of bacterial contamination found in water; floor drinkers specifically can grow enough bacteria over 12 hours to kill or severely affect bird health. If the drinker is placed near a heater, the heat transfer can accelerate bacteria and biofilm build up, and the birds may also refuse to drink, and secondary stress will occur.
Once chicks have been moved to a rearing site, water quality is a priority. A chick will consume roughly 1 ml of water per hour in the first 24 hours. This water must be clean, as contamination can cause problems with the gut and the overall performance of the bird. Good water hygiene supports the development of good gut health, as well as the immune and digestive systems, muscle, and bone development.
So, what can you do to ensure that you are supplying clean water to your birds? As well as testing, we’d advise using a water sanitiser such as Aqua-clean – a hydrogen peroxide product enriched with a special complex containing silver.
More and more rearing fields and estates are going down the route of adding a proportional injection pump to their water systems, such as a Select Doser. The pump will automatically inject a certain amount of chemical through the pipes to the drinkers, depending on the amount of water that is being used – removing the need to continually mix the solution by hand
A good water hygiene programme should include:
- Routine testing
- Drinker line flushing
- Record water consumption – this will highlight any variances that should be investigated, a potential warning of early disease.
- General record keeping – this should include water quality tests, treatment measures and any incidents related to water supply or contamination
Maintaining clean water is vital for bird health at every stage. Poor water quality can compromise gut health, suppress the immune system, and significantly increase vulnerability to disease. Regular testing, proper placement of drinkers, and the use of water treatments like Aqua Clean are practical steps to ensure high water hygiene standards. By prioritising water quality, you can support optimal health, development, and performance in your birds.
For site specific advice and guidance, speak to your local vet or give us a call on 01392 872932 or email us at info@stdavids-gamebirds.co.uk
