WINTER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

fat and thickness of the breast cuts. Water- deprived broilers have also been shown to have paler meat. Not only does water deprivation influence production, but it also has serious consequences on animal health. A reduction in antibodies used to fight viruses could result from water deprivation. Deprivation can also lead to lesions in the gizzard, visceral gout, and ulceration of the lower intestines. Water deprivation affects chicken welfare and behaviour. Chickens deprived of water will reduce feed intake and can be more excitable and unsettled. When water is reintroduced, aggressive behaviours such as feather, vent, and toe pecking have been noted as well as excessive water intake and competition for drinkers. As can be seen from the above, it is crucial to check daily that there is indeed water flowing in the water lines in the shed. It cannot be assumed that because the taps are open and the pumps are on, there is water available to the birds. Water should be available from each and every drinker in a shed – especially in cage systems where birds cannot choose to move to another drinker. During shed walkthroughs, staff should check whether drinkers are operational – ideally, this should be done by physically checking whether the drinkers are functional. Chicken behaviour should also be monitored. In caged layer systems, note whether the birds appear dehydrated – lethargic, dry, shrivelled, or floppy combs and wattles, sunken eyes, panting, etc.; if there is an excessive amount of feed in the troughs, whether the manure is excessively dry, do you observe the chickens actively eating and drinking or not. In floor systems, do you notice empty patches in the houses with chickens avoiding particular drinkers, do you notice bunching around the other drinkers, are birds playing with and perching on drinkers instead of drinking? Once faulty drinkers are identified, these should be fixed immediately. Water should always be accessible to all chickens. Water could be available but not accessible – here, stocking density, drinker height, and water pressure should be considered. Recommended drinker-to-chicken ratios can be found in the breed manuals as well as in the SAPA regulations. These ratios should be maintained to allow for equal access to water, decreased bullying and negative effects associated with competition for resources. Unequal access to water can affect flock uniformity and negatively affect overall production. As chickens grow, drinker lines are raised to accommodate the birds’ height. Drinkers should be raised to a height where the smallest chick can still drink, typically with the water droplet formed on the end of the nipple at eye height. For chicks under one week old, the beak and the waterline should be at a 35° to 45° angle. For chicks over one week old, it should be a 75° to 85° angle. Water pressure or flow rate should be carefully monitored; water may be supplied, but if the pressure is incorrect, water may not be accessible to the birds. For adult layers, 50 to 70 ml/min is recommended and for adult broiler breeders and broilers, 70 to 90 ml per minute. During rearing, the Lott equation ([age in weeks] *7 + 20 ml/min) can be a useful guide in determining the pressure requirements for broilers. If the pressure is too high, there is a risk that the birds may not be able to activate the nipple and drink. If they do activate the nipple, this may lead to excess water spillage. In cage systems, excess water spillage could result in wet manure and increase shed humidity. Wet manure coupled with warm weather Figure 2: Overcrowding at drinkers (left), compared to regular drinking behaviour (right) Figure 3: Lethargic hen with floppy comb (left), sunken eyes (middle), panting (right) Figure 4: Recommended drinker angle for a chick less than 1 week old (left) and over 1 week old (right) www.agribonus.co.za Winter 2026 BONUS 53