An at least semi-autonomous litter conditioning vehicle has a chassis. A drive system is coupled to the chassis and can move the vehicle along a floor of an animal enclosure. A collection system is coupled to a front portion of the chassis and includes a flailer that can reduce a particle size of the litter as the collection system collects litter from the floor. A conditioning system is coupled along a length of the chassis and includes a drum that can receive the collected litter and can be rotated to tumble the litter. A heating element of the conditioning system can transfer thermal energy to the litter as it is tumbled in the drum. A dispersement system is coupled to a back portion of the chassis. The dispersement system can receive conditioned litter from the conditioning system and can disperse the conditioned litter on the floor behind the vehicle.

A poultry barn robot for robotically preforming various poultry barn operation tasks that includes a chassis, a collection platform pivotally mounted to the chassis, and an conveyor connected to the chassis, wherein the conveyor includes conveyor system for conveying at least one of dead birds and manure cakes from a bedded floor of a poultry barn to the collection platform. The robot additionally includes at least one equipment cabinet mounted to the chassis, and at least one controller that is structured and operable to control: movement of the robot through the poultry barn; movement of the conveyor system; and movement of the collection platform between a Collection position and a Disposal position.

A poultry barn robot for robotically preforming various poultry barn operation tasks that includes a chassis, a collection platform pivotally mounted to the chassis, and an conveyor connected to the chassis, wherein the conveyor includes conveyor system for conveying at least one of dead birds and manure cakes from a bedded floor of a poultry barn to the collection platform. The robot additionally includes at least one equipment cabinet mounted to the chassis, and at least one controller that is structured and operable to control: movement of the robot through the poultry barn; movement of the conveyor system; and movement of the collection platform between a Collection position and a Disposal position.

An aerobic treatment system includes a plurality of highly porous, high surface area, inert, synthetic, inorganic, or natural material particles, having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 that float on an enclosed aqueous environment whereby plants and/or microbes can be grown thereon and/or animals such as fish can be raised therein. The inert particles trap air bubbles and nutrients for the growth of diverse types of plants, animals, or microbial systems, which enable phyto treatment of an aqueous waterbody with the ability to limit the growth of unwanted plant and algae such as blue-green algae. The above aerobic bio treatment system contains desirably bioremediation media having one or more microorganisms that are able to withstand system shocks while minimizing energy usage associated with aeration. The system can generally be utilized in any aqueous environment such as waste water and/or polluted water in an enclosed area such as a container, tank, pond, lake, or the like.

An aerobic treatment system includes a plurality of highly porous, high surface area, inert, synthetic, inorganic, or natural material particles, having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 that float on an enclosed aqueous environment whereby plants and/or microbes can be grown thereon and/or animals such as fish can be raised therein. The inert particles trap air bubbles and nutrients for the growth of diverse types of plants, animals, or microbial systems, which enable phyto treatment of an aqueous waterbody with the ability to limit the growth of unwanted plant and algae such as blue-green algae. The above aerobic bio treatment system contains desirably bioremediation media having one or more microorganisms that are able to withstand system shocks while minimizing energy usage associated with aeration. The system can generally be utilized in any aqueous environment such as waste water and/or polluted water in an enclosed area such as a container, tank, pond, lake, or the like.

A poultry cage comprises a resting surface in a horizontal plane having a plurality of openings, a manure collecting surface arranged underneath the resting surface, and a drying air channel comprising a first side wall having a set of first openings for directing drying air towards the manure collecting surface and a set of second openings for directing drying air towards the manure collecting surface. Each first opening directs the drying air at a first angle against a vertical direction towards the manure collecting surface and each second opening directs the drying air at a second angle against a vertical direction towards the manure collecting surface, wherein the first angle being different than the second angle.

A poultry cage comprises a resting surface in a horizontal plane having a plurality of openings, a manure collecting surface arranged underneath the resting surface, and a drying air channel comprising a first side wall having a set of first openings for directing drying air towards the manure collecting surface and a set of second openings for directing drying air towards the manure collecting surface. Each first opening directs the drying air at a first angle against a vertical direction towards the manure collecting surface and each second opening directs the drying air at a second angle against a vertical direction towards the manure collecting surface, wherein the first angle being different than the second angle.

A litter processing system is provided implementing one or more robotic vehicles to process livestock litter, detect conditions of the litter with a plurality of sensors, and treat the litter based upon data collected by the sensors. The vehicles may include processors and software that control vehicle tasks. The vehicle's onboard software may be controlled by a server having an instance of the software thereby controlling operation of the vehicles and collecting sensor data from the vehicles via a wireless network.

A litter processing system is provided implementing one or more robotic vehicles to process livestock litter, detect conditions of the litter with a plurality of sensors, and treat the litter based upon data collected by the sensors. The vehicles may include processors and software that control vehicle tasks. The vehicle's onboard software may be controlled by a server having an instance of the software thereby controlling operation of the vehicles and collecting sensor data from the vehicles via a wireless network.

The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a system and method for providing litter to birds and for circulating the litter throughout the aviary. A litter distribution chain extends through at least some of the scratching platforms. The litter distribution chain receives litter from a storage container and then transfers the litter through the aviary for use by the birds on the scratching platforms. At least a portion of the litter from one scratching platform is directed to move to a scratching platform on a lower level where the litter may be used by birds occupying this lower level. This circulation pattern repeats on the current level, with the recycled litter being deposited on at least one scratching platform near the next lower aviary tower level. Once the litter reaches the lowest aviary tower level, it remains there until it is removed from the aviary by a belt or other means.