Poultry Dosing Pump Case Study: Koromiko Free Range Eggs
Koromiko Free Range Eggs is a family-run poultry operation near Blenheim. Jimmy and Georgina have owned the business for nine years and supply free-range eggs throughout the Blenheim and Picton areas.
The farm has five laying sheds, each housing around 1,000 free-range birds. It also has a separate rearing shed where chicks are raised from day-old.
Vaccines, supplements and sanitisers are administered through the birds’ drinking water. This makes reliable and accurate dosing an important part of managing the flock.
The challenge
Koromiko had traditionally used 200-litre header tanks connected to its gravity-fed water supply. The system worked, but it required regular attention. The tanks had to be checked to make sure they had not run empty. An empty tank could also introduce air into the water lines, creating airlocks that then had to be dealt with.
Jimmy wanted a system that would make administering vaccines and supplements easier and more accurate. There was another important consideration. Koromiko’s water supply is gravity-fed, so any replacement dosing system needed to operate successfully with the relatively low available water pressure.
The goal
Koromiko wanted to replace the existing header tanks with individual dosing pumps for the poultry sheds.
The new system needed to:
- provide more accurate dosing
- reduce the need to monitor header tanks
- minimise issues caused by tanks running empty
- work with the existing gravity-fed water supply
- make administering vaccines and supplements simpler
Rather than changing all the sheds immediately, Koromiko and MixRite NZ agreed that the best approach was to test one pump first.
The MixRite solution
After discussing the farm’s water supply, flow requirements and intended use, MixRite NZ recommended an MR2502 dosing pump for the initial trial.
The MR2502 handles flow rates of up to 2,500 litres per hour and provides an adjustable dosing range of 0.3 to 2.0%. These specifications suit Koromiko’s requirements for its laying sheds.
The pump uses water flow to power the dosing process, so it does not need electricity. As water passes through the pump, it draws the treatment into the water supply at the selected proportion.
This gave Koromiko the opportunity to keep its existing gravity-fed water supply rather than install a completely different dosing system.
MixRite also supplied a mounting bracket for easy installation on a wall or post. Koromiko chose a manual on/off bonnet so the system could deliver plain water without drawing solution when required.
Jimmy then installed the first MR2502 and tested it under normal farm conditions.
Testing the pump on a gravity-fed water supply
Before the first installation, the key question was whether Koromiko had enough water head to operate the pump successfully.
Jimmy estimated the available head at around two to three metres. MixRite NZ worked through the installation requirements with him, including the height difference between the storage tank and pump location and the importance of minimising friction and head loss through the supply pipe.
The decision was made to install one MR2502 and test it under actual farm conditions before committing to the wider installation.
The pump was supplied with a mounting bracket for installation on a wall or post. Koromiko also chose a manual on/off bonnet, allowing water to be delivered without drawing solution when required.
Jimmy installed the first unit and put it into operation on the farm.
The result
The trial answered the most important question. The MixRite dosing pump operated successfully from Koromiko’s gravity-fed water supply.
After using the new system, Jimmy reported that the pump was working well and confirmed that Koromiko intended to proceed with additional pumps.
For the farm, however, the biggest improvement is not simply that the pump works at low pressure. It is the change in how the dosing process can be managed.
Instead of relying on 200-litre header tanks, the dosing pumps provide a more accurate and user-friendly way to introduce vaccines and supplements into the birds’ drinking water.
As Jimmy explains:
“The dosing pumps will be a lot more accurate for vaccines and other supplements we need to administer, and also more user-friendly than the header tanks.”
He also highlighted the practical day-to-day benefit. There is no longer the same need to continually check whether a header tank has emptied and then deal with airlocks in the water lines.
His description of the new approach sums it up nicely:
“Just set and forget.”
From one pump to a wider rollout
The successful first installation gave Koromiko the confidence to move forward with the project.
The farm plans to use five dosing pumps for its laying sheds, replacing the existing 200-litre header tanks.
Testing a single unit first was particularly useful because of the farm’s low-pressure water supply. It allowed the system to be proven under real operating conditions before installing the remaining pumps.
For other poultry farmers using tank or gravity-fed water supplies, Koromiko’s experience also demonstrates that low water pressure does not automatically rule out proportional dosing. When selecting the right pump, consider available head, flow requirements, and installation.
Key outcomes
For Koromiko Free Range Eggs, the move to MixRite provides:
- More accurate administration of vaccines and supplements
- Less reliance on large header tanks
- Less time spent checking tank levels
- Fewer concerns about empty tanks causing airlocks
- Simple operation within the existing water system
- Successful operation from a gravity-fed water supply
- The ability to prove the concept with one pump before expanding the system
Could a MixRite dosing pump work on your poultry farm?
Poultry water systems vary considerably between farms. Water pressure, available head, flow rate, pipework and the required dosing percentage all affect which dosing pump and installation will be suitable.
MixRite NZ can help assess your existing water system and recommend the right dosing pump for your application.
Whether you need to administer vaccines, supplements, minerals or other suitable water-soluble products, we can help you find a solution that works with the way your farm operates.
Talk to MixRite NZ about your poultry dosing requirements.
Frequently asked questions about dosing pumps for animal health
What can dosing pumps be used for in animal health?
Dosing pumps can accurately add suitable water-soluble animal health products to livestock and poultry drinking water. Applications can include vaccines, supplements, minerals, probiotics, enzymes and sanitisers. The correct pump and dosing ratio depend on the product being administered, water flow, and the animals’ requirements.
Do dosing pumps need electricity to operate?
MixRite hydraulic dosing pumps do not require electricity. They are powered by the water flowing through the pump and automatically dose the required proportion of solution into the water supply. This makes them suitable for many farm and livestock applications where access to electricity may be limited or inconvenient.
Can a dosing pump work with a gravity-fed water supply?
Yes, a MixRite dosing pump can operate with a gravity-fed water supply when there is sufficient water head and flow. When selecting and installing the pump, check the available head, pipe size, flow requirements, and potential pressure loss.
Why use a dosing pump instead of a header tank for poultry?
A dosing pump can provide more accurate and convenient administration of vaccines, supplements and other suitable treatments through poultry drinking water. It can also reduce the need to continually check header tank levels and the risk of airlocks when tanks run empty.