Effects of delayed housing of broiler chicks and three different types of waterers on broiler performance

The performance of broilers was examined under different days of placement (after hatching) and with three different types of waterers: 1) an automatic satellite waterer; 2) a broiler Plasson waterer; and 3) a regular Plasson waterer with a plastic ring in the trough of the waterer for 3 d. Male broiler chicks (2,106) from a commercial strain were randomly placed in 27 litter floor pens, with 9 pens per day of placement and waterer treatments. The broilers consumed feed and water ad libitum and mortality was recorded. The broilers were weighed at day of placement, at 7 and 49 d from day of placement and at 28 and 49 d from day of hatch. There was a difference in body weight (P < .05) among the broilers on the day of placement, with those on the day of hatch being heavier. There was no difference in body weights or feed conversion taken after the broilers were on feed for 7 and 49 d after placement. The broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching had a higher (P < .05) mortality rate at 28 d of age than the other two groups. There was no difference in body weight, feed conversion, or mortality within the three different waterer treatments except for the broilers on the Plasson with the ring, which was higher in mortality percentage (P < .05) than the broilers on the broiler Plasson waterer. The broilers placed in the pens with the regular Plasson waterer did not get wet from climbing into the water during the first few days as did the broilers in the pens with the automatic satellite waterer or the Plasson waterer with the ring.