Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Adequate and comfortable nesting boxes are important.
Because of the way the noses of birds are designed, birds
cannot create suction with their beaks. As a result, they have
to raise their heads to swallow. What this means in practical
terms is that birds sling water all over the place and make the
litter on the floor of the coop wet if the lip of a watering
device is too low. If the lip of the watering device is even
with the level of the backs of the birds, the mess created will
be substantially reduced. It is more important with some birds
than others, and particularly important with turkeys, to make
sure plenty of water is available anytime they are given feed
in order to avoid choking. Water provided should be clean
and free of debris, and the container should be designed to
keep birds from standing in it or roosting on it. If birds stand
in or roost over the water source, they will certainly
contaminate it with droppings.
Many topics on poultry cover the lighting arrangements
needed to maximize growth or egg laying. Light affects the
