Poultry Drinking Line System
Automatic nipple drinking line for broiler, layer, and breeder houses — pressure-regulated lines with filter, winch suspension, and end flush, configured from water source to the last nipple.
The drinking line delivers water along the house at the pressure each flock stage needs. Birds drink from stainless steel nipples on a suspended pipe; the line height follows the flock from day-old to market on a winch system.
Each line is assembled from matched components — inlet assembly with filter and pressure regulator, water pipe, nipple drinkers with optional drip cups, and end flush — so pressure stays stable from the first nipple to the last.
Key Features
- Complete line supply — inlet assembly, regulator, pipe, nipples, drip cups, end flush, and suspension hardware quoted as one system.
- Pressure regulator with display tube — line pressure visible at a glance; adjust by screw for each growth stage.
- Matched to bird age — drinking angle, line height, and water column all follow the flock from day-old chicks to adults.
- Winch suspension system — H1500 winch, pulleys, and wire rope raise and level the line across the house.
- Filter at the line inlet — sediment stays out of the valve seats.
- End flush assembly — the line drains and flushes from one ball valve between flocks.
- Drip cup option — spillage lands in the cup, not on the litter.
- Medication dosing position — the line head accepts a proportional dosing pump for vaccination and supplement programs.
- Works from tank or pressurized supply — tank-fed and pump-fed setups both supported with stated pressure requirements.
Line Composition
Water Supply → Filter → Pressure Regulator → Water Pipe → Nipple Drinkers (+ Drip Cups) → End Flush Assembly
Standard components of one drinking line:
| # | Component | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | End assembly with ball valve | Line inlet and drain/flush point |
| 2 | Water filter | Protects valve seats from sediment |
| 3 | Pressure regulator with display tube | Sets and shows line pressure |
| 4 | Water pipe — round PVC or square profile | Carries water along the house |
| 5 | Nipple drinkers | Stainless steel, with optional drip cups |
| 6 | Water line clamps | Fix pipe to the suspension profile |
| 7 | Suspension profile and hanging kit | Carries the line from the roof ropes |
| 8 | Φ22 / Φ90 pulleys and rope clamps | Route the winch wire |
| 9 | H1500 winch | Raises, lowers, and levels the line |
| 10 | Strike line (position marker) | Shows winch position for even lifting |
The line head can also carry a proportional dosing pump for medication and vitamin programs — see our dosing pump page for the dosing unit itself.
Water Source Requirements
The line needs stable supply pressure at the house inlet. Reference figures for a 120 m house:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Inlet pressure from main water source | 200–300 kPa |
| Inlet pipe outer diameter | Not less than Φ32 mm (1 inch) |
| Tank-fed supply | Tank bottom at least 4 m above the drinking line |
| Drinking pipeline length ≥ 100 m | Feed water from the central position of the house |
Required pressure rises with supply length and the number of lines — send your house dimensions and water source and we will confirm the inlet setup.
Pressure Regulation by Bird Age
The regulator sets the water column inside the line — read it on the display tube and adjust with the screw at the regulator base. A rising column means more water at the nipples; a falling column means less. If the column does not move when you adjust, press a nipple to release trapped air first.
Reference water column heights:
| Bird age (days) | Display tube water level |
|---|---|
| 1 – 7 | 100 – 150 mm |
| 8 – 14 | 150 – 200 mm |
| Above 15 | 150 – 200 mm |
| Hot weather | Raise a further 30 – 50 mm to match higher intake |
Higher columns put more water at every nipple. Chicks start on the low setting so they trigger the valve easily; the column rises as intake grows. Confirm the schedule against your nipple model with us before commissioning.
Birds per Nipple
Reference stocking per nipple, to be confirmed against your nipple model and house conditions:
| Bird type | Birds per nipple |
|---|---|
| Broiler | 8 – 12 |
| Breeder | 10 – 12 |
| Duck | 10 |
| Replacement turkey | 20 |
Actual capacity varies with climate, house length, and management. Send your flock plan and we will calculate the nipple count and line spacing for your house.
Line Height Management
Birds drink with the back at a shallow angle as chicks and nearly upright as adults:
- Brooding start: the line sits low, where birds drink easily — back-to-ground angle around 35–45°.
- As the flock grows: raise the line so the drinking angle approaches 75–85°, feet slightly cocked.
- Daily check: the correct height is confirmed by watching the flock drink. A line set too low wastes water onto the litter; too high, and small birds cannot reach it.
The winch system raises and levels the whole line — check levelness along the pipe when you adjust, not just the height.
Winch and Suspension
The line hangs from the roof on ropes routed through pulleys:
- H1500 winch fixed to the house beam on a welded mounting plate
- Line length ≥ 75 m: winch fixed at the middle of the beam, so both halves of the line lift evenly
- Line length < 75 m: winch fixed at one end, at the front door side
- Φ22 and Φ90 pulleys route the Φ3 wire rope from the winch to the suspension ropes
- Rope clamps and thread rope clamps terminate the wires
- Strike line on the winch cable marks lifting position, so the line comes up level on every adjustment
Installation and Commissioning
- Fix the winch mounting plate and pulleys to the beam layout.
- Hang the suspension profile and lay the water pipe into the line clamps.
- Fit nipples and drip cups at the confirmed spacing.
- Connect the inlet assembly — filter, regulator, dosing position — to the water source.
- Flush the line through the end assembly before the first flock.
- Set the regulator to the day-one water column and check nipple output at several points along the line.
We provide the commissioning checklist with the line design.
Configuration and Selection
Send us the following and we will confirm the line layout, nipple count, and accessory set:
- Bird type and flock size
- House length and width
- Number of drinking lines
- Water source — tank or pressurized, and its distance to the house
- Nipple model — matches our stainless steel nipple drinker range
- Drip cups — yes or no
- Manual winch or additional control options
- Destination port
Applications
- Broiler, layer, and breeder houses on floor systems
- New house projects — drinking line quoted together with the feeding line as one package
- Retrofits replacing open drinkers with pressure-regulated nipple lines
- Farms adding medication dosing and water metering to existing lines
FAQ
How many nipples does my house need?
Nipple count comes from bird numbers divided by the per-nipple stocking reference for your bird type — broiler 8–12 birds per nipple, breeder 10–12. Send the house dimensions and flock plan and we will calculate lines, nipples, and spacing.
What water pressure does the line need?
For a 120 m house, 200–300 kPa at the inlet with a Φ32 mm supply pipe. Longer runs and more lines raise the requirement — tank-fed houses need the tank at least 4 m above the line. We confirm the figures for your layout.
How is the line pressure adjusted for young chicks?
By the regulator’s display tube: 100–150 mm water column for days 1–7, rising to 150–200 mm from day 8. The screw at the regulator base sets the column; air in the line is released by pressing a nipple first.
Can the line be fitted with a dosing pump?
Yes. The line head carries a proportional dosing pump for vaccination and supplement programs — it is our standard accessory.
How is the line cleaned between flocks?
Through the end flush assembly — open the ball valve and flush the full line. The inlet filter is cleaned on the same schedule.
Is the winch manual?
The standard setup uses the H1500 manual winch, one per line group. Lines lift in seconds and level is checked against the strike line during adjustment.
Get a Drinking Line Design and Quotation
Send your house dimensions, bird type, and water source and we will come back with the complete line layout — nipple count, regulator settings, and suspension hardware — with a quotation. Drinking and feeding lines are quoted together as one house package.
Send us your house layout for a calculated drinking line configuration.
