Management of Water Lines And Drinking Water Hygiene in Large-scale Chicken Farms

First, how to clean and disinfect closed water lines?

Disinfection is the most important link in our feeding management and disease prevention and control processes, and it is a basic condition to ensure the health of the chickens. Hygiene and disinfection are necessary in actual production. Therefore, cleaning and disinfection of closed water lines is very critical. The sanitary condition of water is one of the main reasons for the disease in chickens. If the water lines are not cleaned, a large number of pathogenic microorganisms will breed and multiply, which will cause the disease in chickens.

Secondly, there is the problem of biofilm growing in the waterline.

Biofilm can easily block the water outlet and nipples of the drinking fountains, resulting in no water or nipple leakage, making the feces in the chicken house thinner and increasing the ammonia smell, affecting the health of the chickens. First, let’s understand the composition of biofilm and the harm of each component to chickens:

1. Scale: Scale can be roughly divided into two types: hard scale and soft scale according to its formation cause and forming state. When water contains impurities such as carbonate colloids, bacteria and organic matter, it is easily generated. The surface of scale is rough and has strong adsorption capacity. Once scale is formed on the inner wall of the water line, it will easily absorb drugs, vaccines, vitamins, etc., affecting the use effect.

2. Harmful microorganisms: E. coil, salmonella, and mold. The existence of these microorganisms will undoubtedly cause great harm to the health of the chickens.

3. Nutrition: fat-soluble vitamins, amino acids, and glucose. In order for modern chicken raising to achieve high yields, the addition of nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids, and antibiotics is essential. These nutrients are easily adsorbed, causing accumulation, Deterioration and breeding of harmful microorganisms.

It is precisely the existence of biofilm that leads to a series of problems such as the inaccurate immune effect of chickens and the high incidence of intestinal diseases. Therefore, based on previous work experience, the author summarized the waterline and drinking water hygiene management measures for large-scale poultry farms to prevent the formation of biofilm and ensure the hygiene of drinking water for chickens. I hope that this operation method summarized by the author can solve the troubles of front-line managers of breeding production.

Comprehensive drinking water hygiene management measures for chicken farms

1. During the emptying period, first install and organize the water lines and pipelines, and use descaling agent and disinfectant to soak, clean and disinfect until ready for use.

2. If the farm uses a tower-less water supply device, discharge sewage 1-2 times a week (to clean up sediment and algae).

3. There are two water pressure gauges at both ends of the chicken house waterway filter, one is the inlet water pressure gauge and the other is the outlet water pressure gauge. When water passes through the filter, dirt and impurities are adsorbed by the filter. When the filter outlet pressure is lower than the inlet pressure, the impurities in the filter must be flushed. If backwash is not performed frequently, the chickens' drinking water will be affected, and the impurities will enter the filter. The inside of the nipple of the medicine container and pressure regulator will affect the normal operation. If the sealing structure of the nipple is blocked, a large amount of water will leak. Therefore, the filter needs to be processed or replaced when necessary.

4. The waterline hanging cup should be scrubbed with disinfectant every five days, according to the dosage for soaking and disinfection.

5. Drinking water disinfection: During the entire raising process of each batch of chickens, except for the three days before, during and after immunization, the time for drinking antibiotics and electrolysis, the drinking water must be disinfected continuously for no less than 12 hours every day with an automatic doser or water tank. The disinfectant used for disinfection is sodium dichloroisocyanurate powder or acidifier. Drinking water disinfected using sodium dichloroisocyanurate powder requires the concentration of residual chlorine at the end of the water line to be 3-5ppm (detected using a residual chlorine detection solution). If an oxidation-reduction potentiometer is used to check, the reading should be at least 650. It is recommended to use an acidifier in the first week of brooding, and after one week of age, use sodium dichloroisocyanurate powder for drinking water disinfection.

6. Soak and clean the water lines and water tanks: Soak the water lines and water tanks with disinfectant every three days during the breeding period for 30 minutes and then rinse them with 1-2 sponge balls. The water line pressure regulator is also cleaned once every three days. When cleaning, disassemble the entire pressure regulator and use detergent and scouring pad to scrub away the dirt inside; there is a counter on the side of the pressure regulator.Flush valve, open the back flush valve, and flush the water line directly without going through the pressure regulator when the water flows through. It is prohibited to use disinfectants to soak and disinfect water lines on the day of immunization and the day before and after.

7. During the medication period, use a pressure regulator to flush the water line once a day before medication. After each course of vitamin drugs and antibiotics, be sure to soak and clean the water line before disinfecting drinking water.

8. Regularly inspect the water line and nipples to prevent water leakage and water interruption. If the nipple spring has small elasticity, the rubber pad is degenerated or contains dirt, it should be replaced or cleaned in time.

9. During the breeding period, take water samples from the end of the water line every week (2-3 samples/building) to test the water quality and microbial conditions to ensure compliance with drinking water requirements.

The waterline cleaning and disinfection methods summarized above and the comprehensive treatment methods for farm water quality and sanitation are very suitable for large-scale farms after our nearly four years of practice on the front line of breeding production.

The above waterline cleaning and disinfection methods and the comprehensive treatment measures for farm water quality and sanitation are very effective. After the above methods, the water quality has been greatly improved. The waterline nipples are no longer blocked. During the feeding process, the end of the waterline can be used every week. Take a water sample to detect microbial conditions to monitor the water quality and hygiene in the water line. Moreover, this method is easy and fast to operate, can be operated by one person, and the cost of using disinfectants is low.

The above operation methods are not only applicable to broiler-scale farms, but also to breeder and laying hen farms, so they have a wide range of applications.

Disclaimer: The materials and information published in this article are mainly used for learning and communication. We respect original authors and units, and support genuine editions. If this article violates your rights, please leave a message directly.