WATER-CONSUMPTION BY BROILERS IN HIGH CYCLIC TEMPERATURES - BELL VERSUS NIPPLE WATERERS

Broilers were maintained on litter in environmental chambers to study water consumption from bell and nipple waterers. The chambers were set at high cyclic temperatures of either 24-35-24 C or 24-32-24 C daily cycles in three trials. Water consumption was recorded by computer eac h 30 min and calculated as a percentage of body weight. Daily water co nsumption from nipples was always less than from bell waterers. Water consumption by quarter-day revealed that consumption from nipples was often similar to that from bell waterers during the lowest temperature s but was less during the periods of highest temperatures. Further stu dy revealed that water consumption from nipple waterers was related to the height of the nipples such that consumption was greater for lower nipples. The results suggest that panting broilers have difficulty dr inking from high nipple waterers.