A new device can greatly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of poultry watering systems.
As part of the 2019 Poultry Tech Summit, Chris Hawk, vice president of Lubing Systems LP, spoke about his company’s GravityPlus System (GPS). Hawk, who spoke on November 22 at the event held in Atlanta, said the system eliminates a common problem in drinker lines.
Chris Hawk, Lubing Systems (Paul Ward Photography)
Inconsistent pressure
Hawk said the current design of many poultry watering systems fails because the flow decreases each time the water passes a drinking nipple. Moving down the line, the flow decreases until the water becomes nearly completely still in the line. This is an issue for sanitation – as still, warm water is ideal for bacterial growth – and both flushing and medicating the line becomes harder. It also means not all the drinkers are supplying water equally to the birds.
The GPS solution
To solve this problem, Hawk said his company turned to the power of gravity to establish a consistent, unrestricted flow through the drinking lines. The GPS system uses ceiling suspended water lines to supply and regulate the flow to the drinker lines.
Moreover, he said, the system offers centralized pressure control and flush control and eliminates the need for pressure regulators in the system.
Advantages over other systems
Hawk said the GPS provides unique benefits beyond providing a constant, high flow water supply to the birds. For the farmer, the GPS creates a single point control system that doesn’t require calibration or pressure regulators. Water pressure in the lines can be changed easily and flushing the lines is made easier, too. It can also recirculate water continuously.
The system does not use electricity, but it is capable of sending an alarm signal to the house’s controller if something is wrong. It also gives more accurate readings on water meters, leading to better medication application.
Finally, the GPS is not susceptible to incoming water supply pressure changes because it uses a water tank to serve as a buffer between the supply and the drinking lines.
