Effect of the drinking system on water quality and laying hen performance and egg quality

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different forms of water supply for laying hens on performance and egg and water quality. Two types of drinking system were evaluated: cup and nipple. In each treatment 10 replicates had been used, composed for five hens. The experiment lasted 63 days, divided in three periods of 21 days. Data of performance and egg quality were submitted to variance analysis and, when the differences were significant, they were compared by F test. Data of microbiological quality were compared by qui-square test. Hens submitted to nipple drinking system showed greater egg production and better feed conversion. No treatment differences on egg quality were detected. However, in the evaluations of the water bacteriological quality it was evident that the nipple drinking system provides better water quality and performance of laying hens.