Twenty commerical layer farms in and around Namakkal, Tamil Nadu were selected for this study. The water samples were collected at two weeks interval for 20 weeks and analysed. The egg quality traits were recorded. The result revealed that except the sulphate and total dissolved solids, other impurities viz. chloride, nitrate and total hardness were comparatively higher in open well than bore well though the levels were well within the safer margin for poultry. The drinking water source did not have any influence-on egg quality traits butthe system of rearinghad a highly significant (P<0.01) effect on egg quality traits such as egg weight, egg shell thickness, shape index, Haugh unit score and is in favour for cage system. Where as, the albumen index werein favour of deep litter system of rearing. Among the interactions, the birds rearedincages supplied with both sources of water laid better quality eggs.
Water quality, cage, deep litter, egg quality
