NIPPLE WATERERS FOR CHICK BATTERIES - DESIGN, EFFICIENCY, AND COST-ANALYSIS

Although no mechanical maintenance and little cost are associated with the trough waterers on chick brooder units, they have many disadvanta ges. A pressure-regulated nipple unit was designed to replace the trou gh system on a chick starting battery, and construction and operating costs (maintenance time) of the nipple system were compared with the o riginal trough system. Assessments of water quality and chick performa nce were also made. A modification of the nipple system was designed t o allow water line manipulation and water consumption data collection, although these were not tested. Advantages of the system include redu ced labor for cleaning and maintenance, no self-contamination, and eas y modification of the lines for water treatments and water consumption data collection. The only disadvantage is cost of the pressure regula tors; however, this would be offset within four to seven 3-wk chick tr ials. For the 3-wk trial conducted in this study with the pressure-reg ulated nipple-equipped unit and a conventional unit, there were no dif ferences in weight gain, mortality, or feed conversion.