One of the main factors for the full development of poultry is the provision of sufficient clean water. The container must be convenient, functional, and freely accessible. There is a huge range of turkey drinkers on the market, differing in size and material. But, if you wish, you can make them yourself. The main thing is to know what is best to make from, and in what sequence to act.
Requirements for drinking bowls for turkeys
To turkey breeding was the most profitable activity, it is worth taking care not only of a microclimate that is comfortable for them, but also of equipment. Requirements for drinking bowls:
- ease of use;
- should be easy to wash;
- do not create problems during disinfection;
- be sufficiently voluminous;
- do not turn over when using;
- There should be different designs for turkey poults and adults.
If these rules are neglected, the water in the drinking bowls will splash and spill onto the floor, creating dampness in the room. And, as a result, a favorable environment will arise for the development of diseases in turkeys.
Types of drinking bowls
Considering the variety of factory-made drinkers, it is sometimes very difficult for a novice poultry farmer to decide on a specific option. Each type has its pros and cons, which should be taken into account when choosing a suitable tank.
Regular
A drinking bowl is a primitive structure in the form of a basin, bucket, tray, or any other container. But using a regular drinker is only allowed for adult turkeys. It must be installed at some distance from the floor, on a hill. Otherwise, the water will quickly become polluted.
The advantage of conventional designs is their cost-effectiveness. This is an affordable drinking bowl. In addition, it is quite voluminous, there is no need for constant monitoring of the water level. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting its poor stability; it can easily be overturned, because turkeys are quite strong birds. You cannot use ordinary tanks for the younger generation; they may not get out if they accidentally fall.
Grooved
This type of design is intended more for quenching the thirst of several turkeys at the same time. Here it is possible to water more than a dozen individuals at once.
Pros:
- availability;
- ease of manufacture;
- functionality.
Minuses:
- the need to control the volume of water;
- Regular fluid renewal is required.
Cup
The design consists of a hose, a water tank and a bowl-shaped drinker. The hose, like an intermediate link, supplies liquid from a large cylinder to a smaller vessel. The bowls filled with water begin to fall, blocking the valve through which water flows through the hose.
Turkeys empty containers, making them lighter. Under the action of a spring mounted inside, they rise, opening the valve. And so the bowls are filled with water again.
Pros:
- There is no need to constantly add water to the container.
Minuses:
- additional financial investment is required to install the drinking bowl;
- arrangement of protection of the container from adult turkeys.
Bell type
Bell-type containers function in the same way as cup-type ones. When the tank fills with water, it lowers, closing the valve, and vice versa. A distinctive feature is that in this design the liquid is not distributed among separate drinkers, but fills only one tray.
Pros:
- there is no need for regular monitoring of the water level.
Minuses:
- high cost of drinking bowl.
Nipple
Nipple type drinkers are installed according to the same principle as cup drinkers. Nipples are installed along the pipe, under each there is a small plastic container into which excess water flows. To avoid the development of pathogenic microorganisms, it is recommended to wash and clean drinking bowls regularly.
When the turkey approaches the bowl, it lifts the movable teat, opening the valve to supply water. The jet is small, there is no unnecessary consumption, the liquid goes directly into the turkey’s mouth. After quenching its thirst, the bird moves away, returning the nipple to its original position.In terms of their internal structure, nipple drinkers are similar to a washbasin in a country house.
Pros:
- no stagnation of water;
- automatic feeding system;
- dosing.
Minuses:
- high cost.
Vacuum
The design is made in the form of a container installed on a tray. It is from this that turkeys will quench their thirst. The tank is filled with water from the top. There is an opening at the bottom for supplying liquid to the drinking bowl. Thanks to the vacuum, water does not go overboard. The container is filled as needed.
Pros:
- variety of varieties (on legs, floor type, hanging);
- there is no need to constantly monitor the water level.
Minuses:
- poor stability;
- connection to the water supply (but you can top it up from a bucket).
What tools and materials will be needed
To make your own drinking bowls for turkeys, you do not need expensive materials and tools. Anyone can make bird-friendly equipment using available materials. For work you will need:
- fragment of a plastic pipe (length – 1 m);
- plugs;
- wooden legs;
- self-tapping screws;
- Bulgarian;
- electric drill.
Instructions for self-production
You can make a design for turkeys with your own hands in just 1.5-2 hours. The number of trough containers will depend on the livestock that is planned to be kept. A homemade design is made taking into account the following steps:
- Prepare a sewer pipe 100 cm long.
- Using a grinder, cut holes based on the size of the turkeys' heads.
- Plug the workpiece from both sides.
- Make wooden supports.
The simplest and most budget-friendly option for equipment for turkeys is plastic bottles.
Installation rules
To increase the stability of drinkers, there is no need to come up with complex technological solutions.For adult turkeys, structures with water are mounted to a vertical support, maintaining a distance of 40-50 cm from the floor. For small turkeys, 20-30 cm is enough.
Drinkers for turkeys are simple equipment, but they require proper selection and installation. The main thing is that poultry does not experience discomfort in quenching its thirst.
