Water constitutes 77% of a typical broiler chicken and makes up around 75% of a chicken’s egg.

From the start of a chick’s life and as they reach maturity, the focus is on getting the right foundations in place to develop healthy birds and productive laying cycles. Good water hygiene contributes to this, by supporting the development of good gut health, the immune and digestive systems, muscle and bone development amongst other things.

Threats to the bird’s health and welfare, due to poor water hygiene such as microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and protozoa, also need to be considered. Pathogens, typically Pseudomonas, E.coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella can flourish in contaminated water supplies and will directly interfere with the bird’s complex gut microbiome, overall gut health and immune status.