Content
Turkeys consume a lot of liquid. One of the conditions for the good development and growth of birds is the constant availability of water in their access zone. Choosing the right drinkers for turkeys is not as easy as it seems. Factors such as age and number of birds need to be considered.
Varieties of drinkers for turkeys
Regular
A simple container into which water is poured. This can be a basin, tray, bucket or other vessel suitable for drinking birds. Suitable for adult birds. The main condition is to install it at a distance from the floor (put it on a hill), otherwise litter particles, droppings and other debris will fall into the water.
Pros:
- does not require large financial costs;
- no time is required to make a drinker.
Minuses:
- the need for strict control over the amount of water in the container, which is far from always possible, because turkeys can overturn the structure or spray water at any time;
- poor stability;
- not suitable for poults as they may fall into a container of water.
Flute
Drinking bowl designed to quench their thirst with several birds at the same time.
Pros:
- does not require large financial costs;
- several birds can drink from one container at the same time;
- you can easily make a drinker for turkeys with your own hands.
Minus: it is necessary to top up and change the water.
Cup
Special drinking cups are mounted on the hose. The hose is attached to the water tank. From this container, the liquid fills the cups. They fall under the weight of the water and block the valve through which the water from the hose enters the drinking bowl. The birds drink from cups, they become lighter and, under the action of a built-in spring, rise and open the valve. The water fills the drinking bowls again, and they again sink under the weight, closing the opening for the flow of liquid. This will happen as long as there is liquid in the tank.
Plus: constant control over the amount of water in the sippy cup is not required.
Minuses:
- financial costs are required to install a drinking cup of this type;
- additional protection of the structure is needed so that heavy birds cannot, sitting on the pipe, break it.
Bell type
The principle of filling with water is the same as for cup ones: under the weight of the liquid, the container drops, the water supply valve closes and vice versa. The difference is that the water does not flow into different cups, but into one tray along the dome.
Plus: the same as in the cup.
Minus: the financial costs of the acquisition.
Nipple
The mounting process is the same as for cups. The difference is that the water does not fill the cups, but is held by a nipple with a movable cone at the end. Water begins to flow from it when the turkey drinks - it makes the cone move with its beak (the principle of action is like a hand washbasin). A drip tray is attached under the nipples so that excess liquid does not fall on the floor.
Pros:
- water does not stagnate;
- constant control over the amount of water in the sippy cup is not required;
- the liquid is precisely dosed according to the requirements of each turkey.
Cons: the same as in the cup.
Vacuum
It is a container placed on a tray from where the turkeys will drink water. The liquid is poured from above. At the bottom, at a certain level, a hole is made so that water flows into the drinking bowl. The water in the cup does not overflow due to the created vacuum, but is topped up as it is empty, i.e. is always on the same level.
Pros:
- constant control over the amount of water in the sippy cup is not required;
- easy to manufacture - you can do it yourself.
Negative: Lack of stability - turkeys can easily turn the container over.
General requirements for the installation of drinkers for turkeys
First of all, turkey drinkers should be convenient for birds to use. They need to be positioned so that the turkeys have 24-hour access to water without hindrance.
The liquid must be clean. To do this, the structure is installed at the height of the turkey's back. The water needs to be changed periodically to keep it always fresh. Containers should be easy to clean and disinfect.
Turkeys are large and strong birds, so strong drinkers should be installed. Also these birds are individualists. The ideal option would be to organize the watering hole in such a way that each bird uses its own drinking bowl. Otherwise, fights are possible, up to and including serious injury to each other.
For poults and adult birds, there should be structures of different sizes. It is important to choose a drinking bowl so that the turkeys cannot splash or spill water from the tank, otherwise there is a risk that the birds will get wet and get cold.
When it's hot, turkeys can flip the drinking bowls over to cool off. To avoid this, you can install tanks with water for bathing birds for the summer.
To prevent this from happening, you should put a wooden circle in the water, in which you first need to cut out several holes (3-4 pcs). Turkeys will drink water through them. The tree will float on the surface and keep the water from freezing.
For newborn turkey poults, it is better not to install nipple drinkers, since babies will have to make extra efforts to get drunk from them.
You can buy a structure for a watering hole or make it yourself. Each of the types has its pros and cons, so before buying or designing it is worth considering and weighing everything carefully.
Drinking bowls that you can make yourself (video review)
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Grooved plastic plumbing pipe:
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Vacuum from plastic bottle:
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Nipple (compilation video):
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Bell:
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Cup:
Conclusion
If you take into account all the requirements for organizing a watering place for turkeys, the birds will receive the required volume of liquid, which will have a positive effect on their development and growth.
