The importance of water line height and pressure

Why is drinker line height so important? 

There are a few facts:

1. Chickens consume 1.75 pounds of water for every pound of feed. This is a constant.

2. Chickens have a maximum rate at which they can consume water, and this rate changes with age. To determine what this rate is, use this equation: [(Bird Age in weeks) x 7] + 20 = Flow Rate

3. Chickens can't swallow. There is a split in their hard palate so they cannot create the vacuum to swallow, so they just tilt their heads back and let the water slide down their throat.

If the pipes are too low, most of the water ends up in the trash, resulting in higher fuel and energy costs to ventilate it (and serious health problems if trapped inside). If the line is too high, the birds can only peck the trigger instead of activating it properly, so they don't consume enough water, resulting in poor weight and performance. Because wasting water is wasting money. That's why is water line height so important.

Only about one-third of the water pumped into the house is expelled by the weight of the chicken; the other two-thirds are either ventilated or stuck in the litter. We can't reduce the water available, we just need to manage it differently. 

This is done in two parts:

First, the nipple drinkers mustn't be leaky. Drinker lines should be cleaned and flushed regularly, at least once a week. Nipple drinkers have a lifespan of 5-10 years, depending on water quality. Replace your old drinkers when you notice that no amount of cleaning is fixing the leaky nipple problem.

Second, you need to examine and adjust the drinker line height almost daily. Today's broilers grow exceptionally fast, and you can't afford to get behind with proper watering. To watch the birds is the easiest way to determine if the height is suitable.  If they must stretch their necks straight up, stand on their toes, or hop, the line is too high. If they must sit to drink, it is too low. 

Here are some age guidelines to help you make appropriate adjustments:

Day-old chicks – drinkers should be just above eye level. Remember to have the barn lit well enough that the chicks are drawn to the shiny metal pin, so that they learn to drink from the nipples. You can also select red nipple drinkers to draw the chicks to peck the metal pin.

2 – 3 days – raise the lines so chicks drink at a 30-45° angle.

4 – 10 days – raise lines so birds are reaching at a 60° angle.

10 days through grow out – check frequently that birds are reaching at a 70 – 80° angle towards the bottom of the trigger pin.

The water pressure of water line is also important

To ensure that birds can easily drink without spilling too much water on the floor, the water pressure of water line is also important.

Chickens have a maximum rate at which they can consume water, and this rate changes with age.

Some simple math can determine what that rate is: [(Bird age in weeks) x 7] + 20 = Flow Rate (mL/s)

This equation creates a target sweet spot for producers where the drinker flow rate matches the beak capacity of the bird. Drinker flow rates are important to note, but the water pressure in the drinker line influences the flow rate.

Too much water pressure results in wasted water because too much water comes out when the nipple is triggered. It can also result in leaky nipples because it will inhibit the shut off mechanism from sealing properly. Too little pressure doesn't allow the birds to drink enough, resulting in decreased performance.

As a general guideline, you should provide at least 25 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure to the system and then adjust the regulator so that the ball height is 2-4" (5-10cm). After the second week, water pressure should be as high as possible without wetting the litter.

We've outline more specific guidelines to help you manage water pressure:

1″ standpipe pressure

Day-old chicks: 1-2" of standpipe pressure

Day 3: raise to 3-4"

Day 5: raise to 5-6"

Continue to raise the water pressure 1-2" every other day until you notice litter conditions getting wet. Stop adjusting the pressure until the litter conditions improve (litter should be just damp enough that it clumps and then crumbles when squeezed into a ball). Once conditions have returned to normal, continue increasing the pressure 1-2" every other day until 28" is reached.

Increase the life span of the regulator by turning the pressure back to 2-4" immediately after removing the birds from the house.

Using a complete set of waterline equipment will increase the service life of the equipment and make the overall operation more harmonious.

View More information about chicken farm.

VIEW our Youtube More breeding equipment video

Established in 2000, LONGMU has been recognized as one of the leaders in poultry equipment products including poultry drinker nipple, poultry pan feeder, feeding line, drinking line, and transportation cages in North China. With 20 sets of plastic injection machines and 30 sets of CNC LATHES, production volume is well ensured. With our own mold design workshop, we have new product development capability and also do OEM for oversea customers. To give customers a better poultry solution, we supply chicken house projects full set of equipment from feeding system, drinking system to transportation to climate control and more. For after-sales, we have a professional after-sales team and poultry installation instructor. Now we have good cooperation with some well-known poultry equipment distributors. Believe we will take strong supply system and good profit for you!

CONTACT US

Phone:+86 13931767097

Email: longmuhusbandry@foxmail.com