Poultry Farming Feeding and Watering Equipment Guide

Skill course on Poultry Farming ABC01(0-4-0) Session: 5 Uses of different types of feeder and water feeder- long feeder, hanging feeders, nipple watering etc. Tray feeding in case of medium chicks to 1week of age.

Feeding Equipments Feeders are equipment used to feed the birds, by placing feed in them. They may be conventional, automatic of various designs and shapes and made up of either metal or plastic. semi-

Feeding Equipments 1.Automatic feeder In case of automatic feeder the feed is supplied to the entire length of the poultry house by specially designed feed troughs with auger type or chain type devices to move the feed from the feed bins to the other end. These are operated with electricity and the height of the feeder can be adjusted depending upon the age of the birds.

2.Linear feeder Different sizes of linear feeder with guards are available. Linear feeders are usually made of Galvanized Iron. However it can as well be made out of any locally available material like wood, bamboo, etc.

3.Circular feeder Semi automatic feeder Hold 5 to 7 kg feed Feed slowly delivered down by gravity These are also called as hanging feeders . 4. Shell grit box It is used to provide shell grit(broken seashell) to the layer birds as a supplemental source of calcium

Water Equipments 1. Water softeners and filters Water with high total dissolved solids will cause deposits on the humidity controls, spray nozzles, jets and valve seats. Therefore filter systems and water softeners are necessary to reduce the TDS content of the water. 2. Water heaters A large capacity boiler is generally used to provide hot water.

Watering Equipment 1.Pan and jar type drinker Circular in nature. Have two compartments i)jar for filling water ii)pan for delivering water 2. Water basin made of plastic / wood with grill Water basin made of plastic Basins of different diameters are available (10 , 12 , 14 and 16 diameter). A separate grill is available to prevent the entry of birds inside the water.

3.Nipple drinker Can be used in deep litter an in cage system These drinkers look like a nipple and water drops comes out when they are pressed One nipple drinkers in each cage housing 3 layers is sufficient

4. Bell type automatic waterer These are made of high- impact plastic in a bell shape usually suspended from separate pipeline for the purpose. This type of waterers has control over the water flow and maintains the required water level always.

6. Manual drinker In case of chicks during first week of brooding, manual drinkers are popularly used. They also referred as fountain drinkers because water comes out of the holes like that in case of a fountain. The main advantage of manual drinkers is the ease of giving vitamins and other pro- biotics /medicines/vaccines through water. Manual drinkers with stand made of high-impact colors (red or blue) are available. Arrangement of drinkers at an equal distance of 0.6m between any two feeders and feeder and a drinker. plastic in bright