Implementations described and claimed herein provide a bird feeder finial assembly. In one implementation, a bird feeder includes a finial having a finial body. The finial has a longitudinal axis. A swivel surface is disposed on the finial body, and a neck extends distally from the finial body along the longitudinal axis. The swivel has a swivel body with a proximal surface and a distal surface. A swivel opening is defined in the swivel body. The neck extends through the swivel opening, and the swivel body is translatable along the neck. A hanger is connected to the swivel body. The swivel body translates along the neck towards the first swivel surface into a swivel position when a suspending force is applied to the hanger, and the finial freely is rotatable about the longitudinal axis independent of the hanger when the swivel body is in the swivel position.

A rotary high lifter and controlled descender has a main housing enclosing a ratchet spool, controlled descender, and locking pawl. An adjustable crank turns the ratchet spool and takes up rope which raises an attached feeder, nestbox, etc. The locking pawl assures that as the rope is wound, the lifter/descender automatically locks in place so that an inadvertent crank release of the crank does not cause the feeder to fall. The rope exits the main housing via an inlet nipple which protects the housing from the elements, insects, etc. To lower the feeder, actuate a cam lock to release the locking pawl, and turn the crank in the opposite direction. Releasing the cam lock can actuate a controlled descender portion of the invention. These components apply a brake-pad-like action against the ratchet spool (can also use a tension knob) to control the speed of rotation and descent.

A rotary high lifter and controlled descender has a main housing enclosing a ratchet spool, controlled descender, and locking pawl. An adjustable crank turns the ratchet spool and takes up rope which raises an attached feeder, nestbox, etc. The locking pawl assures that as the rope is wound, the lifter/descender automatically locks in place so that an inadvertent crank release of the crank does not cause the feeder to fall. The rope exits the main housing via an inlet nipple which protects the housing from the elements, insects, etc. To lower the feeder, actuate a cam lock to release the locking pawl, and turn the crank in the opposite direction. Releasing the cam lock can actuate a controlled descender portion of the invention. These components apply a brake-pad-like action against the ratchet spool (can also use a tension knob) to control the speed of rotation and descent.

A feeder storage apparatus for a chicken feeder includes a body section, a coupling member and/or a mounting web substructure, and a feeder contacting section. The mounting web substructure is positioned on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to the coupling member and/or a chicken feed tube. The feeder contacting section is positioned on a second end of the body section and includes angled arms to support a feeder above the feed tube.

A feeder storage apparatus for a chicken feeder includes a body section, a coupling member and/or a mounting web substructure, and a feeder contacting section. The mounting web substructure is positioned on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to the coupling member and/or a chicken feed tube. The feeder contacting section is positioned on a second end of the body section and includes angled arms to support a feeder above the feed tube.

A bird feeder which comprises a seed container having at least one seed port to permit birds to have access to seed, a shroud extending about the seed port, the shroud being movable between a first position wherein access to the seed port is enabled and a second position wherein access to the seed port is denied, a base member being secured to the seed container, a hollow tube extending upwardly from the base member and being located internally of the seed container, a rod extending within the hollow tube and a spring extending about a portion of the rod, the rod having a flange extending outwardly to bias a first end of the spring, an insert secured to the base member, the insert extending upwardly into the hollow tube with a second end of the spring being biased against the insert, the rod having a lower end secured against a bottom portion of the shroud such that when a weight is placed on the shroud, the shroud moves downwardly to the second position.

The invention relates to a device (100) for the individualized monitoring of the feed conversion ratio of poultry comprising: a weighing station (30) comprising side walls and a front wall defining an available internal volume able to contain a bird, a bird identification means (40), able to identify one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30) and to provide identification information of the bird, a bird weighing means (10), able to measure the weight of one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30) and to provide weight information of the bird, a feeder (50) containing poultry feed, coupled to a feed weighing means (20) able to measure the weight of the feed contained in the feeder (50) and to provide weight information of the feed, wherein said feeder (50) comprises a dispensing area (51), wherein said dispensing area (51) is accessible only to one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30), and a data processing module ( ) coupled to the bird weighing means (10) and to the feed weighing means (20) able to generate a feed conversion ratio from the weight information provided by the weighing means (10) and by the feed weighing means (20), for the bird identified from the identification information provided.

The invention relates to a device (100) for the individualized monitoring of the feed conversion ratio of poultry comprising: a weighing station (30) comprising side walls and a front wall defining an available internal volume able to contain a bird, a bird identification means (40), able to identify one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30) and to provide identification information of the bird, a bird weighing means (10), able to measure the weight of one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30) and to provide weight information of the bird, a feeder (50) containing poultry feed, coupled to a feed weighing means (20) able to measure the weight of the feed contained in the feeder (50) and to provide weight information of the feed, wherein said feeder (50) comprises a dispensing area (51), wherein said dispensing area (51) is accessible only to one bird positioned in the available internal volume of the weighing station (30), and a data processing module ( ) coupled to the bird weighing means (10) and to the feed weighing means (20) able to generate a feed conversion ratio from the weight information provided by the weighing means (10) and by the feed weighing means (20), for the bird identified from the identification information provided.

An elastomeric feed port and a bird feeder having a seed reservoir with a seed opening fitted with such an elastomeric feed port is provided. The feed port has an elastomeric seed control membrane with a cutout that forms at least one aperture through which birds can access seed in the reservoir. The cutout is shaped to create flexible flaps or fingers adjacent the aperture in the membrane that partially cover the seed opening to reduce seed spillage but that can be pushed aside or temporarily deformed by a bird when the bird inserts its beak into the cutout aperture to access seed therethrough.

An elastomeric feed port and a bird feeder having a seed reservoir with a seed opening fitted with such an elastomeric feed port is provided. The feed port has an elastomeric seed control membrane with a cutout that forms at least one aperture through which birds can access seed in the reservoir. The cutout is shaped to create flexible flaps or fingers adjacent the aperture in the membrane that partially cover the seed opening to reduce seed spillage but that can be pushed aside or temporarily deformed by a bird when the bird inserts its beak into the cutout aperture to access seed therethrough.