An apparatus for delivering digestible products to hatchling fowl includes a controller and a metered delivery mechanism, the metered delivery mechanism electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver a pre-defined quantity of digestible products to the container. The digestible product includes an edible and digestible semisolid material.

An apparatus for delivering digestible products to hatchling fowl includes a controller and a metered delivery mechanism, the metered delivery mechanism electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver a pre-defined quantity of digestible products to the container. The digestible product includes an edible and digestible semisolid material.

Systems are disclosed for pasturing livestock on an industrial scale, including for instance poultry.

Systems are disclosed for pasturing livestock on an industrial scale, including for instance poultry.

Modern broilers are selected for fast growth and a large proportion of breast tissue, contributing to a top-heavy phenotype, leg disorders, and inactivity as birds reach market weight. Therefore, the objective was to motivate broilers to move through environmental enrichment. Twelve hundred Ross 308 broilers were housed in pens of 30 for 6 wk; 600 birds were exposed to a novel laser enrichment device (LASER) and 600 were control. Each device projected 2 randomly moving red laser dots onto the floor 4 times/day for 4-min “laser periods”. Seven LASER and 7 control pens, with 5 focal birds/pen (n=70), were randomly selected to be video-recorded d0-8 and once weekly for the remainder of the trial. Videos were analyzed to measure broiler time-budget and behaviors such latency to feed and distance walked during laser periods. Focal birds were gait scored weekly on-farm. A test of the Human-Approach Paradigm was carried out on wk 1 and 6 on all pens. LASER birds were more active on d0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, moving 254% more on d7 (P≤0.05). Time spent active was increased in LASER treatment by 114% on wk 2; 157% on wk 3; 90% on wk 4; and 82% on wk 5. LASER birds spent more time at the feeder on d0, 1, 2, 5, 8, and on wk 1 and 5, with 84% more time at feeder than control on d5 (P≤0.05). LASER birds walked further during laser periods on d0-8, reaching 646.5 cm greater (d1), and on wk 2, 3, 4, and 5, with an increase of 367.5 cm on wk 2 (P≤0.05). Over wk 1-6, 60.54±7.4% of focal birds in the laser treatment were at the feeder during or within 5 mins following laser periods. The laser enrichment device was successful in stimulating broiler physical activity and feeding and did not negatively impact walking ability. Key words: broiler, environmental enrichment, well-being, lameness, behavior

A system for conveniently and easily filling a suet cage with molded home-made suet, and for mounting the filled suet cage easily, securely, and neatly on an outdoor mount in any weather. In a further aspect a magnetically-coupled tailpiece is provided for engaging a lower end or corner of a suet cage when the cage is mounted on an outdoor support.

A system for conveniently and easily filling a suet cage with molded home-made suet, and for mounting the filled suet cage easily, securely, and neatly on an outdoor mount in any weather. In a further aspect a magnetically-coupled tailpiece is provided for engaging a lower end or corner of a suet cage when the cage is mounted on an outdoor support.

An improved feeding system is provided to permit sequential entry to animals, one at a time, into a feeding station that weighs the animal, and then provides or prevents access to a single feed or feed blend based on body weight or other criteria. It exits each animal if no feed is to be provided, or after feeding for a specified period of time. The system accommodates animals housed in groups and allows individual animals to be fed precisely with minimal labour input. Feed consumption by individual animals is limited by the amount of time they remain in the feeding area of the station and the amount of feed provided to them. The system provides for the ongoing collection of data about the animals' growth, and controls and monitors feed intake and body weight.

An improved feeding system is provided to permit sequential entry to animals, one at a time, into a feeding station that weighs the animal, and then provides or prevents access to a single feed or feed blend based on body weight or other criteria. It exits each animal if no feed is to be provided, or after feeding for a specified period of time. The system accommodates animals housed in groups and allows individual animals to be fed precisely with minimal labour input. Feed consumption by individual animals is limited by the amount of time they remain in the feeding area of the station and the amount of feed provided to them. The system provides for the ongoing collection of data about the animals' growth, and controls and monitors feed intake and body weight.

The present disclosure provides a bird feeder having a seed container secured to a seed tray to provide access to seeds. The seed tray is in turn comprised of an undercut and a central rod having a spring mechanism. The spring mechanism allows for a shroud that is connected to the central rod, to move from a first position where access to the seeds is permitted to a second position where access to the seeds is prevented. The seed tray is also comprised of an undercut, either at a periphery of the seed tray or at individual ports of the seed tray, the undercut to prevent seeds from falling out of the seed tray when the bird feeder sways or otherwise moves. A seed guard may also be provided onto the seed tray, the seed guard having a circumferential undercut to prevent seeds from falling out of the seed tray.