Poultry Water Sanitation

Sanitation for Poultry

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Why You Need Sanitation

Water sanitation is essential in poultry farming to prevent disease, enhance flock health and performance, and eliminate harmful contaminants from the water supply. Sanitizing water effectively kills bacteria and other pathogens, while cleaning water lines removes biofilms that can harbor microorganisms and obstruct equipment. This leads to improved digestion, increased weight gain, and the prevention of illnesses such as salmonella. 

Prevent Disease 

  • Eliminates pathogens: Sanitation effectively eradicates harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and other pathogens, which can contaminate water and cause illness in birds. 
  • Prevents recontamination: Continuous disinfection provides ongoing protection, preventing the growth and spread of bacteria throughout the water system from one flock to another. 
  • Protects against contamination: Even if the source water is clean, birds can introduce bacteria at the drinker, leading to a buildup of pathogens in the water lines. Sanitation mitigates this risk. 

Improve Flock Health and Performance 

  • Boosts growth and weight gain: Sanitizing water and lowering its pH can enhance protein digestibility and feed conversion, resulting in improved weight gain. 
  • Enhances water intake: Clean water is more appealing, encouraging birds to drink more, which is vital for their overall health. 
  • Reduces illness: By preventing disease, sanitation decreases the number of sick birds, thereby minimizing the impact on the flock’s overall performance and productivity. 

Maintain Equipment and Water Quality 

  • Removes biofilms: Biofilms are sticky layers that can develop inside water lines, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and clogging nipples or drinkers. 
  • Removes mineral buildup: Water sources may contain minerals like iron, manganese, and calcium that contribute to scale and residue buildup, which can restrict water flow and necessitate periodic acid cleaning. 

Certain water treatments, such as Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Peroxide and Peracetic Acid are options for continuous treatment. A water sample is advised to determine the appropriate treatment program for your farm.  

How to Identify the Right Program

Step One

Step One

Identify and quantify water contaminants such as minerals, pH, bacteria, yeast, mold, etc. taken by water samples (drip and swab).
Step 2

Step 2

Prepare a strategy to reduce and eliminate challenges based on water results.
Step 3

Step 3

Use between flock line cleaning to reduce challenges.
Step 4

Step 4

Utilize daily water sanitation best suited for the operation.
Step 5

Step 5

Monitor and test to verify that the program works.

WATER SAMPLE COLLECTION RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES

Drip Sample

  1. Collect water samples in sealed, uncontaminated sample bottles.
  2. Label each bottle with the well number, barn number, line number, etc. This is important to be able to identify sampling locations when results are received.
  3. Wearing clean nitrile gloves, use an alcohol wipe to clean the nipple on the drinker line.
  4. Push up on the nipple and allow water to run for approximately 15 seconds. While the water is still flowing fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with the water sample, be careful not to touch the bottle rim or cap to any surface that could contaminate the sample
  5. Ensure the cap is tight and does not leak, place bottles in a cooler with an ice pack and deliver or ship to the lab.

SWAB SAMPLE

  1. Turn off the water supply to the drinker line or raise the end of the line to stop water flow.
  2. Detach the end cap/hose from the end of the drinker line and allow the line to drain completely.
  3. Label each swab tube with the well number, barn number, line number, etc. This is important to be able to identify sampling locations when results are received.
  4. Wearing clean nitrile gloves, use an alcohol wipe to clean the outside rim of the pipe on the drinker line where the threads are located.
  5. Unscrew the cap from the tube and press the swab sponge against the side of the vial to squeeze out excess moisture.
  6. Insert the swab two to three inches into the end of the pipe or the drinker line, twisting the tip several times as you pull it back out to be sure you are sampling as much of the pipe as possible. Be careful not to touch anything else with the sponge tip.
  7. Insert the swab back in the tube and screw tight.
  8. Place the swab tube in a cooler with an ice pack and deliver or ship to the lab within 24 hours of collection.

Disinfection Techniques

  • Sanitize Empty Troughs: After scrubbing, rinse the tank with a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach, 9 parts water) and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse twice with clean water before refilling
  • Delete the Continuous Disinfection bullet, there’s nothing there
  • Chorination: no notes on this bullet
  • Chlorine Dioxide: Effective biocide penetrates and eliminates biofilm in pipelines, troughs and tanks, functioning over a wide pH range.
  • Peracetic Acid/Hydrogen Peroxide: Serves as sanitizing agents when following product guidelines.
  • Copper Sulfate:  Helps control algae growth at a rate of 1.5 teaspoons per 1,000 gallons.
  • UV Sterilization: Chemical-free disinfection, utilizes ultraviolet light to eradicate microorganisms in the water supply. Does not remove particles or dissolved substances and should be paired with filtration.