What a dosing pump is for in poultry farming
In poultry farming, the drinking water is not only a physiological need: it is the main channel through which medicines, supplements and acidifiers reach the entire flock. For this reason, the poultry dosing system has become a central tool in the day-to-day management of a poultry house.
In the past, treatments were administered mainly through the feed, but for reasons of safety and accuracy of intake the practice has progressively shifted to delivery through the drinking water. A dosing pump makes it possible to mix the active ingredient precisely into the water the birds will drink, ensuring that every bird receives the correct dose. In this sector the doser essentially performs two functions:
- administering oral medicines and supplements, to prevent or treat diseases, viruses and infections;
- acidifying the drinking water, in order to maintain optimal gut health and support nutrient absorption.
Which birds the doser suits in poultry farming
Dosing pumps are used at every stage of poultry farming and across the different species reared: chicks, even day-old ones, laying hens and turkeys. It is precisely in the early stages of life, when the birds are most vulnerable, that the ability to deliver treatments and supplements uniformly through the drinking water becomes decisive. A constant, precise dosing rate ensures that every bird, regardless of how much water it drinks, receives the correct concentration of active ingredient, a key requirement in operations that count large numbers of birds and where the uniformity of treatment has a direct impact on the health of the whole flock.
What problems it solves and the benefits it offers
The main difficulty in a poultry operation is ensuring that every bird takes in the correct amount of active ingredient, even though water consumption varies through the day and from bird to bird. This is where the volumetric proportional dosing pump from Mixtron offers its decisive advantage: it mixes the product accurately and precisely regardless of variations in water flow. The dosing rate always stays proportional to the volume passing through the doser, ensuring that the delivery of medicines, supplements or acidifiers is constant and reliable for the whole flock.
This brings concrete benefits for the farmer: uniform delivery of treatments, which reduces the risk of under or overdosing; the maintenance of optimal gut health thanks to controlled acidification of the water; and the reassurance of a dosing system that requires no electrical power supply and works continuously, without the need for constant manual intervention.
The technical characteristics to consider when choosing
Choosing the right dosing pump for poultry farming rests on a few precise technical parameters, linked above all to the nature of the additives used and to the size of the operation.
A contained dosing rate, within 5%
The products administered in the poultry sector, such as medicines, acidifiers and supplements, are generally fairly acidic and aggressive and are used at low concentrations. For this reason, the most widely used models work with a contained dosing rate, within 5%: a low percentage is enough to guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment while, at the same time, preserving the health of the birds through consistent delivery over time.
Chemical compatibility and choice of seals
Because the additives can be chemically aggressive, it is important that the doser offers adequate chemical resistance. The body of the doser is made from polypropylene (PP) and polyoxymethylene (POM), while for the more acidic additives it is advisable to fit seals in Viton or Viton Extrem, which extend its working life.
Adequate flow rate and integration on the system
The flow rate should be sized according to the number of birds and the water consumption of the operation. Integration, on the other hand, is extremely simple: the doser is simply connected to the drinking water line, with no need for an electrical power supply or complex installation work.
The Mixtron models best suited to the poultry sector
Among the catalogue solutions, the model most widely used in poultry farming is the MX.250.P022, which neatly sums up the characteristics this sector requires.
With a flow rate of up to 2.5 m³/h, it suits the drinking-water systems of most operations, while its dosing range from 0.2 to 2% offers the low-percentage precision ideal for delivering medicines and acidifiers, additives that, as noted, are used in contained concentrations. The combination of a medium flow rate and low, accurate dosing makes it the benchmark choice for ensuring a constant, uniform delivery to the whole flock.
For operations with different flow requirements, the Mixtron range includes models with both lower and higher flow rates, to be assessed according to the water consumption of the system and the number of birds.
A daily ally for flock health
Relying on precise dosing of the drinking water is not merely a technical matter: it is a choice that affects animal welfare, the uniformity of the flock and the peace of mind of those running the operation. A doser that works autonomously, with no electrical power supply and minimal intervention, frees up valuable time and reduces the margin of human error in the delivery of treatments.
It is on this ground that Mixtron's experience makes the difference: alongside a complete range of volumetric proportional dosing pumps, the company offers dedicated technical advice, able to translate the needs of each individual operation into the correct configuration, from the size of the doser to the choice of seals.
If you would like to understand which dosing solution best suits your business, speak to our experts and build the system tailored to your poultry operation together.
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