The Water Requirements of Broilers

WET LITTER in poultry houses is a problem of considerable economic importance. Charles et al. (1942) reported that water can become a problem in poultry litter management. Eley and Hoffman (1949) suggested that the level of dietary protein may affect the amount of moisture in the droppings which should in turn directly affect the moisture content of the litter. James and Wheeler (1949) and Wheeler and James (1950) showed the amount of water consumed as well as the amount of droppings produced varied almost directly with the percent of protein in the diet. The direct association of the dietary protein content and the amount of water consumed are probably related to the well known fact that greater amounts of water are required for the metabolism of protein than for carbohydrates or fats. A partial explanation for the relationship of protein content of the diet to the amount of droppings produced …