Poultry is one of the most common sources of protein in the population's diet. Every year, millions of chickens are slaughtered. The meat is versatile and can be used in several different applications. Chicken farming therefore takes place on a mass scale. Large installations housing thousands of chickens need a reliable water supply, and a constant flow water supply for chickens is one such piece of equipment.
A constant flow system typically consists of a large storage tank with multiple outlet pipes. The pipes have nipples on their ends, and they extend into the area in which the chickens are kept. The chickens open the nipples through the pressure of their beaks. The system's use requires no labor except maintenance, but there are some factors that should be remembered.
Chickens can easily dehydrate, sometimes in a matter of hours if they are in direct sunlight. A chicken has a relatively low body mass compared to people, sometimes only about 5lb (2.5kg). Its cardiovascular system is thus not as tolerant to temperature as that of other animals. Temperature changes that other animals can endure are potentially fatal to the chicken. Stress is a recognized cause of death among livestock, and capricious changes in temperature can induce stress in poultry.
Another issue associated with dehydration is electrolyte loss. This is a problem in human health too. Electrolytes are nutrients occurring in foods such as mineral salts or table salts. They are essential to the nervous system and the muscles, so any animal that has these needs them. Examples are potassium and sodium. People excrete them in urine and sweat.
Symptoms of chicken dehydration are simple to observe and become more severe as the condition becomes worse. Its initial stage is characterized by paleness in the head or face. This is not necessarily dehydration - it may be some other illness. But if it develops into difficulty in breathing, it is more likely to be the former.
Left unassisted, the bird then develops diarrhea. This is much more conspicuous and necessitates intervention. However, this can also be the symptom of a disease which may in turn be causing the dehydrated condition. Alimentary ailments typically cause a loss of fluid, so the accompanying symptoms may well be interrelated in the infection and the bird is potentially not suffering from dehydration alone.
The most serious stage of dehydration is convulsions, where birds experience fits or become limp and immobile intermittently. This is the condition's final stage and it is extremely hard to save birds from death if this occurs. The fits are characterized by useless kicking with the feet and jaundice-like straining of the neck.
Life-saving measures are possible at any time, but they should be introduced as soon as possible. Close attention is required at first. Once the bird has started to drink independently, a constant water supply is necessary, or alternatively its feed can be moistened. Electrolyte supplements or additives should also be used, to replace lost nutrients.
A constant flow system typically consists of a large storage tank with multiple outlet pipes. The pipes have nipples on their ends, and they extend into the area in which the chickens are kept. The chickens open the nipples through the pressure of their beaks. The system's use requires no labor except maintenance, but there are some factors that should be remembered.
Chickens can easily dehydrate, sometimes in a matter of hours if they are in direct sunlight. A chicken has a relatively low body mass compared to people, sometimes only about 5lb (2.5kg). Its cardiovascular system is thus not as tolerant to temperature as that of other animals. Temperature changes that other animals can endure are potentially fatal to the chicken. Stress is a recognized cause of death among livestock, and capricious changes in temperature can induce stress in poultry.
Another issue associated with dehydration is electrolyte loss. This is a problem in human health too. Electrolytes are nutrients occurring in foods such as mineral salts or table salts. They are essential to the nervous system and the muscles, so any animal that has these needs them. Examples are potassium and sodium. People excrete them in urine and sweat.
Symptoms of chicken dehydration are simple to observe and become more severe as the condition becomes worse. Its initial stage is characterized by paleness in the head or face. This is not necessarily dehydration - it may be some other illness. But if it develops into difficulty in breathing, it is more likely to be the former.
Left unassisted, the bird then develops diarrhea. This is much more conspicuous and necessitates intervention. However, this can also be the symptom of a disease which may in turn be causing the dehydrated condition. Alimentary ailments typically cause a loss of fluid, so the accompanying symptoms may well be interrelated in the infection and the bird is potentially not suffering from dehydration alone.
The most serious stage of dehydration is convulsions, where birds experience fits or become limp and immobile intermittently. This is the condition's final stage and it is extremely hard to save birds from death if this occurs. The fits are characterized by useless kicking with the feet and jaundice-like straining of the neck.
Life-saving measures are possible at any time, but they should be introduced as soon as possible. Close attention is required at first. Once the bird has started to drink independently, a constant water supply is necessary, or alternatively its feed can be moistened. Electrolyte supplements or additives should also be used, to replace lost nutrients.
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