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Carbonated Drinking Water for Improvement of Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens During Summertime Months

Department of Animal Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone: (217) 244-0195; FAX: (217) 244-2871

George R. McCain

The BOC Group, Inc., 100 Mountain Avenue, Murray Hill, NJ 07974

Correspondence: Ken W. Koelkebeck

A carbonated drinking water system was installed in a cage layer facility and its effects on performance of 46- and 86-wk old commercial laying hens was evaluated during a 12-wk period in the summer. The water system effectively acidified the drinking water (pH 4.73 for carbonated water versus 7.67 for normal tap water). Overall, egg specific gravity (Weeks 1-12) of eggs laid by older hens was improved (P.06) by providing a constant source of carbonated drinking water versus those given only tap drinking water (1.0790 versus 1.0776 g/cm³). Egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were not different (P>.05) for hens provided carbonated versus tap drinking water. Thus, a carbonated drinking water system can be operated efficiently in a commercial cage layer facility and can help improve eggshell quality of flocks experiencing shell quality problems during the summer.

Key Words: Carbonated drinking water • laying hens • production performance • egg specific gravity • improved eggshell quality