Hinged water valve for poultry watering system

A watering system of a poultry house configured to be raised from an operational position near a floor of the poultry house to a raised position near a ceiling of the poultry house, the watering system comprising:

• at least one rigid sight tube that serves as a visual indicator for the pressure in the watering system, wherein the at least one rigid sight tube connects to a connector fitting of the watering system with a hinged water valve, the hinged water valve comprising:
• a valve body that mates with the connector fitting of the watering system, the valve body having an upper portion comprising a top seating protrusion surrounding a flow passage, the valve body further comprising an internal seat;
• at least one hinge pin;
• a valve cap receiving the at least one rigid sight tube and positioned on the valve body, the valve cap and valve body comprising a hinged connection coupling the valve cap to the valve body with the at least one hinge pin, wherein the valve permits flow of water into the at least one rigid sight tube when the at least one rigid sight tube is in its upright operational condition but prohibits flow of water toward the at least one rigid sight tube when the at least one rigid sight tube is pivoted to a substantially horizontal cleaning condition, wherein an underside of the valve cap forms a flared inlet, the flared inlet providing a sealing surface configured to mate with the top seating protrusion of the valve body when the valve cap is positioned such that the rigid sight tube is in an operational upright condition, wherein the valve cap has a stem protruding from the flared inlet;
• an internal plunger shaped to slide inside the valve body, the internal plunger configured to interact with the internal seat of the valve body in a sealing manner;
• and
• a biasing spring configured to urge the plunger into contact with the internal seat of the valve body thereby plugging a flow passage through an upper portion of the valve seat such that when the plunger is pressed against the internal seat of the valve body, water is prevented from flowing through the flow passage, wherein with the valve cap in the upright condition, the stem contacts the plunger and forces the plunger away from the internal seat against the biasing force of the spring so that water flows around the plunger past the internal seat and through the flow passage and into the at least one rigid sight tube.