Abstract

A drinking water distribution system for poultry is disclosed providing poultry such as turkeys and chickens with fresh clean drinking water. The system utilizes gravity feed to distribute water from a reservoir through a conduit to a series of water cups connected to the conduit in open communication with the conduit and extending upwardly therefrom. The conduit and reservoir are suspendingly supported above the floor of the poultry house by cables depending downwardly from overhead portions of the poultry house and connected to a winch so as to be easily raised to a suitable height to accommodate growth of the poultry. The system further monitors the water temperature and if the temperature of the water gets too warm, the system replaces it with water of a lower temperature. The invention further includes an arrangement for periodically purging and cleansing the system by replacing the drinking water with liquid disinfectant for a predetermined dwell period. At the end of the dwell period, the system is drained of the liquid disinfectant and replenished with water. A disinfecting solution may also be added to the drinking water to minimize growth of bacteria and germs. In a preferred embodiment, the drained liquid disinfectant is retained and used as the disinfecting solution to be added to the drinking water.