Drinkers for turkeys

Turkeys consume large amounts of liquid. One of the conditions for the good development and growth of birds is the constant availability of water in their access zone. Choosing the right drinkers for turkeys is not as easy as it seems. Factors such as the age of the birds and their number must be taken into account.

Varieties of drinkers for turkeys

Normal

A simple container in which water is poured. It can be a basin, a tray, a bucket, or another vessel suitable for drinking birds. Suitable for adult birds. The main condition is to install at a distance from the floor (put on a raised platform), otherwise particles of bedding, litter and other debris will fall into the water.

Pros:

• does not require large financial costs;
• no time is required to make a drinker.

Cons:

• the need for tight control over the amount of water in the tank, which is far from always possible, because turkeys can tip over the structure or splash water at any time;
• poor stability;
• not suitable for turkey poults as they may fall into the water container.

Grooved

A drinking bowl designed to quench the thirst of several birds at the same time.

Pros:

• does not require large financial costs;
• several birds can drink from one container at the same time;
• you can easily make a drinking bowl for turkeys with your own hands.

Minus: it is necessary to top up and change the water.

Cup

Special drinking cups are mounted on the hose. The hose is attached to the water tank. From this balloon, liquid fills the cups. They fall under the weight of water and close the valve through which water from the hose entered the drinker. Birds drink from cups, they become lighter and, under the action of the built-in spring, rise and open the valve. Water fills the drinkers again, and they again fall under the weight, closing the hole for the liquid to enter. This will happen as long as there is liquid in the tank.

Plus: constant control over the amount of water in the cup is not required.

Cons:

• installation of this type of drinker requires financial costs;
• additional protection of the structure is needed so that heavy birds cannot, sitting on the pipe, break it.

Bell type

The principle of filling with water is the same as for cups: under the weight of the liquid, the container lowers, the water supply valve closes and vice versa. The difference is that water does not enter into different cups, but into one tray along the dome.

Plus: the same as the cup.

Minus: financial costs for the acquisition.

Nipple

The mounting process is the same as for cups. The difference is that water does not fill the cups, but is held by a nipple with a movable cone at the end. Water begins to flow from it, when the turkey drinks – it makes the cone move with its beak (the principle of operation is like that of a manual washbasin). A drip tray is attached under the nipples so that excess liquid does not fall on the floor.

Pros:

• water does not stagnate;
• constant control over the amount of water in the cup is not required;
• the liquid is precisely dosed according to the requirements of each turkey.

Cons: the same as for cups.

Vacuum

It is a container placed on a tray, from where turkeys will drink water. The liquid is poured from above. Below, at a certain level, a hole is made so that water enters the drinking bowl. The water in the cup does not overflow, due to the created vacuum, but is topped up as it is empty, i.e. is always on the same level.

Pros:

• constant control over the amount of water in the cup is not required;
• easy to make – you can do it yourself.

Minus: insufficient stability – turkeys can easily turn the container over.

General requirements for the installation of drinkers for turkeys

First of all, turkey drinkers should be convenient for use by birds. They need to be positioned so that the turkeys have unhindered round-the-clock access to water.

The liquid must be clean. To do this, the structure is installed at the height of the back of the turkey. Water must be changed periodically to keep it fresh. Containers should be easy to clean and disinfect.

Turkeys are large and strong birds, so you should install durable drinkers. Also, these birds are individualists. The ideal option would be to organize a watering place in such a way that each bird uses its own drinker. Otherwise, fights are possible, up to serious injury to each other.

For turkey poults and adult birds, structures should be different in size. It is important to choose a drinker so that the turkeys cannot splash or spill water from the tank, otherwise there is a risk that the birds will get wet and catch a cold.

When it’s hot, turkeys may turn their drinkers over to cool off. To avoid this, you can install water containers for bathing birds in the summer.

To prevent this from happening, you should put a wooden circle in the water, in which you first need to cut several holes (3-4 pcs). Through them, turkeys will drink water. The tree will float on the surface and keep the water from freezing.

For newborn turkeys, it is better not to install nipple drinkers, because in order to get drunk from them, babies will have to make extra efforts.

You can buy a watering hole or make your own. Each type has its pros and cons, so before buying or designing, you should carefully consider and weigh everything.

Drinkers that you can make yourself (video review)

• Grooved from a plastic plumbing pipe: 
  Feeder and drinker for birds from a plumbing pipe

• Vacuum from a plastic bottle:
  Do-it-yourself drinker for chickens, from a plastic bottle.

• Nipple (composite video):
  Do-it-yourself drinkers for chickens

• Bell tower:
  Automatic drinker for Chickens, Birds, OWN HANDS!!!

• cup:
  Cup drinkers for chickens. How to make an autonomous drinker for chickens, do it yourself.

Conclusion

If we take into account all the requirements for organizing a watering place for turkeys, the birds will receive the necessary volume of liquid, which will positively affect their development and growth.