A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

A colony basket and method of using the same for handling poultry from DOC through the growing process and on to a production facility comprising a harvesting system, a loading system, a transport system, an unloading and storing system, hanging system and cleaning system. The system and method performs the steps of harvesting and colonizing live poultry into a singly stackable and transportable colony basket, stacking and loading the trays on a transport, unloading and temporarily storing the poultry for subsequent processing. The system and method further includes the use of a modular colony basket for interchangeable use with the described system.

A wild bird treatment system includes an enclosure for accommodating a plurality of wild coveying birds targeted for treatment with at least one ground level entrance of a size and location to permit the targeted birds to freely enter and exit the enclosure while excluding non-targeted animals. An electronic bird caller for attracting wild coveying birds is provided. A feeder assembly, slidably removable from the enclosure, includes a slider assembly and a feed hopper. The slider assembly, slidably removable from the feeder assembly, includes a feed plate assembly and a feed slide for controlling flow of medicated feed. The feed plate assembly, slidably removable from the slider assembly, includes a feed plate of a size and a food delivery box with outlets of a size to control the rate of medicated feed released from the feed hopper specific to the birds targeted for treatment.

Methods of identifying a xenohormetic induced phenotype in an organism are provided. Also provided are methods if using organisms having a known xenohormetically induced phenotype in a number of different applications, such as the identification of xenohormetic agents and the generation of chemical entities and foodstuffs under specific conditions of production governed by xenohormetic effects.

Methods of identifying a xenohormetic induced phenotype in an organism are provided. Also provided are methods if using organisms having a known xenohormetically induced phenotype in a number of different applications, such as the identification of xenohormetic agents and the generation of chemical entities and foodstuffs under specific conditions of production governed by xenohormetic effects.

A device for the in-ovo determination of the sex of a fertilized bird egg, having a light source for emitting excitation radiation for exciting fluorescence in a region inside the bird egg, a spectroscopic apparatus for analysing, in a temporally and/or spectrally-resolved manner, fluorescence radiation emitted from the region inside the bird egg, an evaluation unit for determining the sex from the data determined by means of the spectro-scopic apparatus and a measuring head for jointly transmitting the excitation radiation into the bird egg and receiving the fluorescence radiation from the bird egg. The measuring head has an optical fibre system with a head end for transmitting the excitation radiation and receiving the fluorescence radiation.

Embodiments described herein provide systems for stimulating a desired response, such as ovulation and egg laying, hunger, growth, mood and sexual maturity in birds, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail and ostrich, by controlling the duty cycle, wavelength band and frequency of photon bursts to a bird, through the high frequency modulation of photons in an individual color spectrum to the bird and duty cycle, where the photon modulation and duty cycle is based upon the specific needs of the bird.

Embodiments described herein provide systems for stimulating a desired response, such as ovulation and egg laying, hunger, growth, mood and sexual maturity in birds, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail and ostrich, by controlling the duty cycle, wavelength band and frequency of photon bursts to a bird, through the high frequency modulation of photons in an individual color spectrum to the bird and duty cycle, where the photon modulation and duty cycle is based upon the specific needs of the bird.

A birding accessory assembly includes a birding accessory, such as a bird bath, a pole for supporting the bird bath on the ground or other surface, and a removably interlocking feature between the bottom face of the accessory and the top end of the pole. The interlocking interface can include a plurality of knobs projecting from the bottom face of the accessory and a cam plate mounted on the pole. The cam plate defines a like plurality of ramp segments to receive the knobs. With the knobs disposed within the ramp segments, the accessory is rotated so that the knobs advance toward a lower end of the ramp segments. A side opening at the end of each segment receives a boss projecting from each knob to snap or click into engagement. An array of magnets carried by the cam plate can magnetically engage a metal plate integrated into the bottom face of the accessory.