Poultry is a staple form of meat in the national diet. This requires that millions of chickens are produced on an annual basis. Chicken can be used for different meat styles and the farming of poultry is a massive industry. Large farms that produce thousands of animals use large amounts of water, so the use of constant flow water supply for chickens is not uncommon.
This equipment usually has a storage tank with several outlets. These outlets are nippled pipes extending out the tank, into reach of the chickens below. Gravity therefore moves the water down the pipes, and the chickens can activate the nipples as they require. No supervision is needed during use. Yet there are some points that users of this equipment should keep in mind.
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 is the loss of electrolytes. People can suffer from the same problem. Electrolytes are found in salts, such as table salt and other mineral compounds in the diet. They are lost by people through their sweating or urination. Chickens also need electrolytes, since they have muscle tissue and a nervous system, just like other animals. Sodium and potassium, two important electrolytic ions, are necessary in the nerves.
Dehydration in chickens has distinct symptoms which become worse as the problem progresses. Initially, the chicken exhibits a pale head or face. This may still be the symptom of another ailment, since it is associated with certain other sicknesses. But where the bird then starts to struggle to breathe, the chance of dehydration becomes stronger.
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.
In its terminal stage, the bird starts to undergo convulsions. These are spasms which are interrupted by periods of immobility and limpness. The spasms are marked by pointless kicking motions with the feet and tetanus-style neck flexing backwards. It is difficult to prevent death once the chicken has descended into this phase.
The bird can be saved at any stage of the condition, but should preferably be treated sooner rather than later. It will require personalized attention at first, but once it has recovered sufficiently to drink on its own it should be supplied with enough water or moistened feed. Also make sure that it has electrolytes to replenish its metabolic levels of these compounds.
This equipment usually has a storage tank with several outlets. These outlets are nippled pipes extending out the tank, into reach of the chickens below. Gravity therefore moves the water down the pipes, and the chickens can activate the nipples as they require. No supervision is needed during use. Yet there are some points that users of this equipment should keep in mind.
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 is the loss of electrolytes. People can suffer from the same problem. Electrolytes are found in salts, such as table salt and other mineral compounds in the diet. They are lost by people through their sweating or urination. Chickens also need electrolytes, since they have muscle tissue and a nervous system, just like other animals. Sodium and potassium, two important electrolytic ions, are necessary in the nerves.
Dehydration in chickens has distinct symptoms which become worse as the problem progresses. Initially, the chicken exhibits a pale head or face. This may still be the symptom of another ailment, since it is associated with certain other sicknesses. But where the bird then starts to struggle to breathe, the chance of dehydration becomes stronger.
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.
In its terminal stage, the bird starts to undergo convulsions. These are spasms which are interrupted by periods of immobility and limpness. The spasms are marked by pointless kicking motions with the feet and tetanus-style neck flexing backwards. It is difficult to prevent death once the chicken has descended into this phase.
The bird can be saved at any stage of the condition, but should preferably be treated sooner rather than later. It will require personalized attention at first, but once it has recovered sufficiently to drink on its own it should be supplied with enough water or moistened feed. Also make sure that it has electrolytes to replenish its metabolic levels of these compounds.
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