A poultry cage door assembly includes a main body, a secondary body, and a bracket. The main body includes a main first lateral end extending from a main front side to a main rear side and from a main upper end to a main lower end. The main first lateral end includes a first keyed arrangement and a first bracket-receiving feature. The secondary body includes a secondary first lateral end extending from a secondary front side to a secondary rear side and from a secondary upper end to a secondary lower end. The secondary first lateral end includes a secondary keyed arrangement and a second bracket-receiving feature. The secondary keyed arrangement is configured to mate with the first keyed arrangement. The first bracket is mateable with the first bracket-receiving feature and the second bracket-receiving feature.

An automatic drive unit for a door assembly of the type having a frame with an opening, a door positionable within the opening between an open position and a closed position, and a door actuator for moving the door between the open and closed positions, includes a controller circuit having a power source, a timing circuit for reporting the date and time to a processor, a non-volatile memory, a programmed set of instructions, and a display. The programmed set of instructions are adapted for receiving input of a location and open and close offset times, and storing such information in the memory. The controller circuit executing the instructions determines based on its location and the date a sunrise time and a sunset time, opens the door at the sunrise time plus the open offset time, and closes the door at the sunset time plus the close offset time.

An automatic drive unit for a door assembly of the type having a frame with an opening, a door positionable within the opening between an open position and a closed position, and a door actuator for moving the door between the open and closed positions, includes a controller circuit having a power source, a timing circuit for reporting the date and time to a processor, a non-volatile memory, a programmed set of instructions, and a display. The programmed set of instructions are adapted for receiving input of a location and open and close offset times, and storing such information in the memory. The controller circuit executing the instructions determines based on its location and the date a sunrise time and a sunset time, opens the door at the sunrise time plus the open offset time, and closes the door at the sunset time plus the close offset time.

Three-dimensional vegetation growing systems provide an enclosed hydroponic environment for growing plants. The system serves to uniformly expose the plants to nutrients, liquids, and light from multiple directions while the plant rotates. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional vegetation growing systems may include a system housing configured to form an enclosed hydroponic growing environment; at least one light source in the system housing, the at least one light source configured to emit light; a distribution portion in the system housing, the distribution portion configured to discharge a vegetation growth sustaining liquid; and at least one conveyor device in the system housing, the at least one conveyor device disposed in proximity to the distribution portion, the at least one conveyor device configured to support vegetation and rotate the vegetation in the system housing as the vegetation receives the vegetation growth sustaining liquid from the distribution portion and the light from the at least one light source. Other embodiments of the three-dimensional vegetation growing systems are also disclosed.

An animal door unit comprising a front panel, a left rear panel, a left guide, a right rear panel, and a right guide, wherein the front panel comprises an entrance; and a door plate having a plurality of guide holes, the door plate configurable in a retracted state and an open state, wherein, in the retracted state, the door plate traverses the entrance, and wherein, in the open state, the door plate does not traverse the entrance. The animal door unit may include a motor disposed within a module case; and a sprocket in rotational communication with the motor, wherein the sprocket interfaces with the plurality of guide holes, such rotational movement of the sprocket inducing linear movement in the door plate.

An animal door unit comprising a front panel, a left rear panel, a left guide, a right rear panel, and a right guide, wherein the front panel comprises an entrance; and a door plate having a plurality of guide holes, the door plate configurable in a retracted state and an open state, wherein, in the retracted state, the door plate traverses the entrance, and wherein, in the open state, the door plate does not traverse the entrance. The animal door unit may include a motor disposed within a module case; and a sprocket in rotational communication with the motor, wherein the sprocket interfaces with the plurality of guide holes, such rotational movement of the sprocket inducing linear movement in the door plate.

A door for use with a cage for transporting poultry including a door assembly for mounting the door to the cage which is configured to limit vibration associated with the transporting of poultry in the cage and prevent the unintentional opening of the door.

A door for use with a cage for transporting poultry including a door assembly for mounting the door to the cage which is configured to limit vibration associated with the transporting of poultry in the cage and prevent the unintentional opening of the door.

A cage and corresponding method for loading, transporting, and unloading poultry utilize a substantially vertical track attached to a leg or a sidewall to provide stability for a door of the cage throughout the door's entire range of motion. The cage is stackable and together with like cages can form an assembly of cages. The assembled stack of cages allows for several cages to share common components. Thus, the weight of the load during transport is reduced and more livestock can be transported. Shared components can include a roof and even a latching mechanism which prevents the door of each cage from coming open during transport.

A cage and corresponding method for loading, transporting, and unloading poultry utilize a substantially vertical track attached to a leg or a sidewall to provide stability for a door of the cage throughout the door's entire range of motion. The cage is stackable and together with like cages can form an assembly of cages. The assembled stack of cages allows for several cages to share common components. Thus, the weight of the load during transport is reduced and more livestock can be transported. Shared components can include a roof and even a latching mechanism which prevents the door of each cage from coming open during transport.